compound (n.)

A term used widely in DESCRIPTIVE LINGUISTIC studies to refer to a linguistic UNIT which is composed of ELEMENTS that function independently in other circumstances. Of particular currency are the notions of compounding found in ‘compound WORDS’ (consisting of two or more free MORPHEMES, as in such ‘compound NOUNS’ as bedroom, rainfall and washing machine) and ‘compound SENTENCES’ (consisting of two or more main CLAUSES); but other applications of the term exist, as in ‘compound VERBS’ (e.g. come in), ‘compound TENSES’ (those consisting of an AUXILIARY + LEXICAL verb), ‘compound SUBJECTS/ OBJECTS’, etc. (where the clause element consists of more than one noun PHRASE or PRONOUN, as in the boys and the girls shouted) and ‘compound PREPOSITIONS’ (e.g. in accordance with).