portmanteau word (redirected from portmanteau words)

portmanteau word

n.

A word formed by merging the sounds and meanings of two different words, as chortle, from chuckle and snort.

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portmanteau word

Noun

a word made by joining together the beginning and end of two other words, such as brunch Also called: (blend)

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

portmanteau word - a new word formed by joining two others and combining their meanings; "`smog' is a blend of `smoke' and `fog'"; "`motel' is a portmanteau word made by combining `motor' and `hotel'"; "`brunch' is a well-known portmanteau" portmanteau, blend motel - a motor hotel neologism, neology, coinage - a newly invented word or phrase brunch - combination breakfast and lunch; usually served in late morning shopaholic - a compulsive shopper; "shopaholics can never resist a bargain" workaholic - person with a compulsive need to work smog, smogginess - air pollution by a mixture of smoke and fog dandle - move (a baby) up and down in one's arms or on one's knees