prefix
(redirected from prefixes)Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia.
prefix
Unlike suffixes, which can be either inflectional (changing only the grammatical function of a word without changing its basic meaning) or derivational (creating a word with an entirely new meaning), prefixes can only be derivational; adding a prefix always changes the basic meaning of the word.
pre·fix
(prē′fĭks′)tr.v. pre·fixed, pre·fix·ing, pre·fix·es
1. To put or attach before or in front of.
2. (prē-fĭks′) To settle or arrange in advance.
3. Grammar
a. To add as a prefix.
b. To add a prefix to.
n.
1. Grammar An affix, such as dis- in disbelieve, attached to the front of a word to produce a derivative word or an inflected form.
2. A letter, word, abbreviation, or number placed before a name, address, or other identifying label to indicate class or category: You have to indicate on the form whether you prefer the prefix Mr., Ms., or Dr.
[Middle English prefixen, from Old French prefixer : pre-, before (from Latin prae-; see pre-) + fixer, to place (from Latin fīxus, past participle of fīgere, to fasten; see dhīgw- in Indo-European roots). N., from New Latin praefīxum, from neuter sing. of Latin praefīxus, past participle of praefīgere, to fix in front : prae-, pre- + fīgere, to fasten.]
pre′fix′al adj.
pre′fix′al·ly adv.
pre′fix·a′tion (-fĭk-sā′shən), pre·fix′ion (-fĭk′shən) n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
prefix
n
1. (Grammar) grammar an affix that precedes the stem to which it is attached, as for example un- in unhappy. Compare suffix1
2. something coming or placed before
vb (tr)
3. to put or place before
4. (Grammar) grammar to add (a morpheme) as a prefix to the beginning of a word
prefixal adj
ˈprefixally adv
prefixion n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pre•fix
(n. ˈpri fɪks; v. also priˈfɪks)n.
1. an affix placed before a base or another prefix, as un- in unkind, un- and re- in unrewarding.
2. something prefixed, as a title before a person's name.
v.t. 3. to fix or put before or in front.
4. to add as a prefix.
5. to fix, settle, or appoint beforehand.
[1375–1425; (v.) late Middle English < Middle French prefixer < Latin praefixus, past participle of praefīgere to set up in front; see pre-, fix; (n.) < New Latin praefixum, neuter of praefixus]
pre•fix•al (ˈpri fɪk səl, priˈfɪk-) adj.
pre′fix•al•ly, adv.
pre`fix•a′tion, pre•fix′ion (-ˈfɪk ʃən) n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
prefix
Past participle: prefixed
Gerund: prefixing
| Imperative |
|---|
| prefix |
| prefix |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
prefix
A word or word part that is added to the beginning of another word, such as “dis-” in “dislike.”
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | prefix - an affix that is added in front of the word affix - a linguistic element added to a word to produce an inflected or derived form alpha privative - the negative prefix a- or un- |
| Verb | 1. | prefix - attach a prefix to; "prefixed words" affix - attach or become attached to a stem word; "grammatical morphemes affix to the stem" suffix - attach a suffix to; "suffix words" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
بادِئَه، مقْطَع يُضاف في أوَّل الكَلِمَه
předponaprefix
præfiksforstavelse
predmetakprefiks
elõképzõ
forskeyti
接頭辞
priešdėlis
priedēklis
predpona
predpona
ön ek
prefix
[ˈpriːfɪks]B. [priːˈfɪks] VT
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
prefix
n (Gram) → Vorsilbe f, → Präfix nt; (= title) → Namensvorsatz m; (in code) → Vorsatz m; (Telec) → Vorwahl f
vt (Gram) → präfigieren, mit einer Vorsilbe or einem Präfix versehen; name → mit einem Namensvorsatz versehen; number (with code) → voranstellen (+dat), → voransetzen (+dat); words prefixed by “un” → Wörter mit der Vorsilbe or dem Präfix „un“
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
prefix
(ˈpriːfiks) noun a syllable or syllables put at the beginning of another word to change its meaning. dislike; unemployed; remake; ineffective.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
prefix
n. gr. prefijo.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012