Clipped
words are words shortened by common use;
they are a shortened abbreviation of a word, which makes them easier to spell
and write through clipping. Clipping
refers to part of a word that serves for the whole, such as ad and phone from
advertisement and telephone, respectively. The term is also known as a clipped
form, clipped word, shortening, and truncation.
A clipped form generally has the same
denotative meaning as the word it comes from, but it's regarded as more
colloquial and informal. Clipping also makes it easier to spell and write many
words. For example, a clipped form may replace the original word in everyday
usage, such as the following examples:
CLIP WORD |
ORIGINAL WORD |
CLIP WORD |
ORIGINAL WORD |
ad |
advertisement |
jet |
jet aircraft |
auto |
automobile |
lab |
laboratory |
bike |
bicycle |
lunch |
luncheon |
bra |
brassiere |
margarine |
oleomargarine |
bro |
brother |
mart |
market |
burger |
hamburger |
math |
mathematics |
bus |
omnibus |
memo |
memorandum |
butt |
buttocks |
mike |
microphone |
caf |
cafeteria |
movie |
moving pictures |
champ |
champion |
pants |
pantaloons |
chem |
chemistry |
phone |
telephone |
chemist |
alchemist |
photo |
photograph |
clerk |
cleric |
plane |
airplane |
coed |
coeducational student |
pop |
popular |
con |
convict |
pro |
professional |
co-op |
cooperative |
prof |
professor |
copter |
helicopter |
prom |
promenade |
deli |
delicatessen |
quake |
earthquake |
doc |
doctor |
ref |
referee |
dorm |
dormitory |
specs |
specifications |
exam |
examination |
stereo |
stereophonic |
fan |
fanatic |
taxi |
taxicab |
fax |
facsimile |
teen |
teenager |
flu |
influenza |
tie |
necktie |
fridge |
refrigerator |
typo |
typographical error |
gas |
gasoline |
van |
caravan |
grad |
graduate |
varsity |
university |
gym |
gymnasium |
vet |
veterinarian |
hippo |
hippopotamus |
wig |
periwig |
iron |
flatiron |
zoo |
zoological garden |
Using Synonyms to Get the Meaning of Clipped
Words
A synonym
is a word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in certain
contexts. The adjective form is synonymous. Synonymy is the relationship that
exists between words with closely related meanings. The word comes from the
Greek meaning "same name."
It occurs in a language in different contexts,
such as formal and informal language, like you use in conversation or academic
paper. Also, some synonyms have slightly different connotations when they are used,
even though they might mean the same thing. For example, look at the
differences between the terms for money: moolah, greenbacks, cash, currency,
and revenues, which all occur in different contexts and levels of formality. It
may also be nested inside one another, which is referred to as a kangaroo word.
When used as a context clue, it has words and
phrases that have similar meanings to help the reader understand the meaning of
the unfamiliar word. Look at this example:
The ad will appear in three magazines. And
hopefully this notification will improve the sale of the company.
Ad (advertisement) and notification have
similar meanings, so they are synonyms. If you know what ad means, you can
infer what notification means.
Sometimes a text gives a synonym of the
unknown word to signal the meaning of the unfamiliar word:
An event
which caused a deep impression on the public mind was the epidemic of flu and respiratory disease in 1918.
In this sentence the word flu is a synonym of respiratory disease. The word and sometimes signals
Sources:
Retrieved at https://www.sightwordsgame.com/vocabulary-words/word-play/clip-words/
Retrieved at https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-clipping-words-1689855
Retrieved at
https://study.com/academy/lesson/using-context-clues-to-complete-a-sentence.html
Retrieved at https://www.thoughtco.com/synonym-definition-1692177
Retrieved at https://study.com/academy/lesson/using-context-clues-to-complete-a-sentence.html