English definitions

Acronym

A word that is formed using the initial letters from 2 or more words in succession.

Amelioration

where a word takes on a more positive connotation over time.

antonym

a word that means the opposite of another

archaism

a word that is no longer in everyday use or has lost a particular meaning in current time.

backformation

the formation of a word from another one, from which it appears to be derived ( babysit)

blending

forming a new word by combining the beginning of one and the end of another ( motel → motor + hotel)

borrowing

introducing specific phrases or words from other languages into another.

broadening

where the meaning of a word beings to expand and become more inclusive than it was before.

clipping

shortening a word to form a new variant

coinage

the creation of new words

colloquial

the causal conversation of everyday languages.

compounding

forming a word from two or more units that are themselves words (whiteboard → white + board)

connotation

the range meanings brought to mine by a particular word beyond its essential meaning

conversion

the creation of a new word from an existing word in a different word class ( golf green ( noun) → the colour green ( adjective))

denotation

the primary meaning of a word excluding its connotations

derivation

creating a new word from an existing one but wit the addition of a prefix or a suffix ( -ing or -un)

eponym

the name of something that has taken on the name of its credited inventor/ discoverer.