noun
meronym
MER-uh-nim
Meronym (noun) means a word that names something as a part of a larger whole. Example: “Wheel is a meronym of car, since a wheel is part of a car.”
noun
1
specialist A word that names something as a part of a larger whole.
"Wheel is a meronym of car, since a wheel is part of a car."
"The linguist listed page as a meronym of book."
"In this classification, branch counts as a meronym of tree."
How to use meronym
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA meronym is a word for a part of something, like wheel being part of car.
When to use it
It is a specialist term from linguistics and semantics, not everyday vocabulary.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a meronym of
meronym relationship
meronyms and holonyms
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Wheel is a _____ of car, since a wheel is part of a car.
Etymology
Meronym combines the prefix mero-, meaning part, with the suffix -onym, meaning name. Both elements trace back to Ancient Greek, from méros for part and ónuma for name.
Synonyms
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partonym
Antonyms
holonym
Rhymes for meronym
See all rhymes for meronym →Frequently asked questions
What is a meronym?
A meronym is a word that stands for a part of something bigger, such as wheel being a part of car.
What is the opposite of a meronym?
Its opposite is a holonym, the word for the whole that the part belongs to.
Is meronym the same as synonym?
No, they are different despite the similar ending: a synonym means the same as another word, while a meronym names a part of something.
What is the meaning of meronym?
"meronym" (noun) means a word that names something as a part of a larger whole.
