prefixnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈpriː.fɪks/us/ˈpriː.fɪks/prefix noun [ C ] (GRAMMAR)
B2 language a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to make a new word:
In the word "unimportant", "un-" is a prefix.
See also
affix
More examples
- 'un' is one of the most common prefixes in English.
- A suffix is added at the end of a word, and a prefix is added to the beginning.
- Prefixes can be used to create new words in English.
- 'Eco-' is a prefix used to mean 'relating to the environment'.
- The prefixes 'in-', 'im-', 'il-' and 'ir-' all mean 'not'.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: morphology & parts of words
- -athon
- -ative
- -ee
- -ese
- combining form
- compound
- disyllabic
- est
- ill
- monosyllabic
- monosyllable
- particle
- polysyllabic
- portmanteau word
- s
- stem
- syllable
- that'd
- that'll
- that's
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prefix noun [ C ] (PHONE)
UK internet & telecoms a dialling code
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Communications - by telephone
- aeroplane mode
- airplane mode
- alarm call
- bell
- break
- break up
- cold-calling
- conference call
- connection
- cut
- give sb a buzz idiom
- hash
- hold
- ICE (number)
- put sb through
- put sth down 1
- telecommuting
- tinkle
- top-up card
- transfer
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