open-class word
- noun
- /ˈoʊpən klæs wɜrd/
- Specialized
:
palabra de clase abierta
- Nouns, verbs, and adjectives are considered open-class words in English.
Examples
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Unlike prepositions, open-class words regularly grow in number with technological advancements.
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Unlike closed-class words, open-class words increase in number as society changes and progresses.
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Language constantly evolves as new open-class words are coined to describe emerging concepts.
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An open-class word can easily adapt to new meanings.
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Nouns and verbs are examples of open-class words.
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Language constantly evolves as new open-class words are coined to describe emerging concepts.
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Nouns, verbs, and adjectives are considered open-class words in English.
Synonyms
A word that gives the main meaning in a sentence, like a noun or verb
Antonyms
- Specialized
A word from a small fixed set that helps show grammar, like in or and
Surface Forms
Morphology
open-class + word
The phrase is compositional: 'open-class' can be interpreted as a class that is open (i.e. allows new members) and 'word' is a lexical item, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer it means a word belonging to a class that is open to new additions. Although the term is somewhat technical in linguistics, the basic logic (an 'open' category of words) follows regular English composition and is cross-linguistically expressible, making the meaning derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Open-class word comes from the image of a class, or group, that is open like a room with its door wide so 'new words' can come in. So it means a word that belongs to a category where 'new words' are often added, such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
