Compound Words List

REF	LEVEL	COMPOUND	PATTERN	MEANING	EXAMPLE
COMPOUND ADJECTIVES
CW01		off-putting	HC | ADJ + PPR	unpleasant, disconcerting, or repellent	She had gnomes in the garden, which was even more off-putting.
CW01		downhearted	CC | ADV + PP	feeling depressed or sad	Ann was very downhearted about the poor grades she got in school.
CW01		incoming	CC | ADV + PPR	arriving at or coming towards a place	Three or four staff members handle incoming telephone calls.
CW01		overdone	CC | ADV + PP	with too much done, said, or used	I think she has overdone it with all the lace and frills in her bedroom.
CW01		inborn	CC | ADV + PP	existing from birth	Some people seem to have an inborn talent for drawing and painting.
CW01		upbeat	CC | ADJ + N	positive and enthusiastic	Analysts are more upbeat about the long-term outlook for the economy.
CW01		highbrow	CC | N + N	intellectual or rarefied in taste	Not everyone can enjoy highbrow art and literature.
CW01		across-the-board	HC | ADV + N	applying to all	The changes will cause problems right across-the-board.
CW01		up-and-coming	HC | ADJ + PPR	likely to be successful in the future	Do you have any advice for up-and-coming musicians?
CW01		down-and-out	HC | ADJ + ADJ	having no luck, no money	She tries to help those down-and-out in our neighborhood.
CW02
CW02		downcast	CC | ADV + N	sad or depressed	Helen seems very downcast at the moment. She misses John terribly.
CW02		time-consuming	HC | N + PPR	using or taking up a great deal of time	Using a scraper to remove wallpaper can be very time-consuming.
CW02		blue-collar	HC | ADJ + N	relating to manual work or workers	Her political support comes mostly from blue-collar workers.
CW02		overwhelming	CC | ADV + PPR	difficult to fight against	The flood was overwhelming and the building was soon drowned.
CW02		backhanded	CC | ADV + PP	insincere or sarcastic	In a backhanded compliment he said she looked very good for her age.
CW02		outbound	CC | ADV + PP	travelling from a place	The outbound flight was smooth but the return flight was delayed.
CW02		sought after	OC | PP + ADV	much in demand, generally desired	Products from abroad, especially from Italy, were sought after.
CW02		underhand	CC | ADV + N	secret and dishonest	She promised me there's nothing underhand about this agreement.
CW02		bygone	CC | ADV + PP	happening or existing a long time ago	The sophisticated structures reflect the elegance of a bygone era.
CW02		over-the-counter	HC | ADV + N	legally sold without a prescription	If you have only mild symptoms, try an over-the-counter treatment.
CW03
CW03		run-of-the-mill	HC | N + N	average and unexceptional	Kate was just a very average run-of-the-mill kind of student.
CW03		far-fetched	HC | ADV + PP	very difficult to believe	The storyline was too far-fetched and none of the actors were good.
CW03		fully-fledged	HC | ADV + PP	completely developed or trained	Tony was now a fully-fledged member of the teaching profession.
CW03		high-handed	HC | ADV + PP	given to haughty disregard of others	They have a reputation for being high-handed in their treatment of clients.
CW03		fly-by-night	HC | V + N	unreliable or untrustworthy	Can we believe in the credibility of fly-by-night companies?
CW03		never-ending	HC | ADV + PPR	having or seeming to have no end	People went in and out of her home in a never-ending procession.
CW03		down-to-earth	HC | ADV + N	practical and realistic	I've never met a more down-to-earth young man in my life.
CW03		quick-witted	HC | ADV + PP	able to think quickly, intelligent	Alex was quick-witted and had an extraordinarily agile mind.
CW03		tight-fisted	HC | ADV + PP	unwilling to spend money	Don't imagine Andre'll buy you a drink - he's too tight-fisted.
CW03		ill-advised	HC | ADV + PP	not sensible, wise, or prudent	Whatever the reason, she would be ill-advised to go out on her own.
CW10
CW10		badly dressed	OC | ADV + ADJ	wearing unfashionable clothes	They are badly dressed, badly equipped, and many of them are drunk.
CW10		left-hand	HC | ADJ + N	on the left side of something	In Sri Lanka they drive on the left-hand side of the road.
CW10		bulletproof	CC | N + ADJ	impenetrable to bullets	The police wore bulletproof vests when taking the action.
CW10		brand new	OC | N + ADJ	completely new	A brand new designer kitchen is something I can only dream about.
CW10		air-conditioned	HC | N + ADJ	provided with air conditioning	The building provides about 11,500 sq ft of air-conditioned offices.
CW10		breathtaking	CC | N + ADJ	very exciting or impressive	The view from the top of the mountain was breathtaking.
CW10		last-minute	HC | ADV + N	done at the latest possible time	The airline regularly offers last-minute bookings at bargain prices.
CW10		long-distance	HC | ADJ + N	travelling over a long distance	She received a long-distance phone call from her boyfriend in Vienna.
CW10		easy-going	HC | ADJ + N	usually relaxed and calm, not worried	My dad is pretty easy-going, and he doesn't mind if I stay out late.
CW10		deep-frozen	HC | ADJ + ADJ	preserved at a low temperature	The organ is soaked in the fluid and then deep-frozen in liquid nitrogen.
CW11
CW11		time-consuming	HC | N + ADV	using or taking up a great deal of time	This analytical technique was time-consuming and destructive.
CW11		second-hand	HC | ADV + N	previously used by someone else	Having only £1000 to play with, he bought a second-hand car.
CW11		open-minded	HC | ADJ + ADJ	willing to consider new ideas	She wished her parents were more open-minded on political issues.
CW11		hard-working	HC | ADJ + ADJ	working with a lot of effort	I remember him as a quiet, hard-working and well-spoken boy.
CW11		grown-up	HC | ADJ + ADV	no longer young, fully grown	He has three grown-up children who work in the family business.
CW11		duty-free	HC | N + ADJ	exempt from payment of duty	David bought 200 cigarettes at the airport duty-free shop.
CW11		full-time	HC | ADJ + N	employed for or involving full time	A growing number of people are returning to full-time education.
CW11		snow-white	HC | N + ADJ	of a pure white colour	Her hair was snow-white and brushed back into a neat bun.
CW11		outstanding	CC | ADV + ADJ	extremely good or excellent	His outstanding abilities were attested by his rapid promotion.
CW11		world-famous	HC | N + ADJ	well-known throughout the world	He had joined a world-famous company, learning his trade well.
COMPOUND VERBS
CW04		backslide	CC | V + V	revert to bad habits	He's done a good job in the exam, I hope he won't backslide.
CW04		undermine	CC | ADV + V	weaken gradually or insidiously	The constant criticism was beginning to undermine his confidence.
CW04		withhold	CC | PREP + V	refuse to give someone something	They can not withhold treatment as punishment for any reason.
CW04		outweigh	CC | ADV + V	exceed in weight, value, or importance	The costs of the scheme outweigh its supposed benefits.
CW04		uphold	CC | ADV + V	support sth that you think is right	The regime has been criticized for failing to uphold human rights.
CW04		oversell	CC | ADV + V	praise sb or sth too much	I really think that Tamara has a tendency to oversell herself.
CW04		downplay	CC | ADV + V	act as if it's not very important	They are very modest and downplay their own accomplishments.
CW04		uplift	CC | ADV + V	make someone feel happier	Art was mainly created to uplift the mind and the spirit.
CW04		overthrow	CC | ADV + V	remove forcibly from power	Rebels were already making plans to overthrow the government.
CW04		outlive	CC | ADV + V	live longer than somebody	Most birds considerably outlive mammals of comparable size.
CW05
CW05		downgrade	CC | ADV + V	reduce to a lower grade, rank, level	We mustn't let them downgrade the importance of safety at work.
CW05		undergo	CC | ADV + V	experience sth that is unpleasant	She had to undergo surgery to cure the problem with her knee.
CW05		outclass	CC | ADV + V	be much better than sb or sth	The latest 500 cc road bike easily outclasses all the competition.
CW05		withstand	CC | PREP + V	remain undamaged or unaffected by	The flimsy structure of the car could not withstand even mild impacts.
CW05		underestimate	CC | ADV + V	guess that sth is smaller than it really is	The worst thing you can do is underestimate an opponent.
CW05		offload	CC | ADV + V	unload a cargo	This is the part of the port where tankers offload their oil.
CW05		overhang	CC | ADV + V	hang over something	She was knocked off her bicycle by an overhanging branch.
CW05		backfire	CC | ADV + V	have the reverse of the desired effect	Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble.
CW05		outlast	CC | ADV + V	live or last longer than	These naturally dried flowers will outlast a bouquet of fresh blooms.
CW05		upbraid	CC | ADV + V	reprove or reproach angrily	Her husband set about upbraiding her for neglecting the children.
CW06
CW06		rubber-stamp	HC | N + V	give official approval to a law, plan	The town council just rubber-stamps decisions made by the mayor.
CW06		cross-examine	HC | N + V	ask detailed questions of someone	She avowed her crime when the policeman began to cross-examine her.
CW06		blow-dry	HC | V + V	dry your hair using a hairdryer	Don't blow-dry your hair for so long after your shower.
CW06		second-guess	HC | ADV + V	guess what sb will do in the future	Editors and contributors are trying to second-guess the future.
CW06		hot-wire	HC | ADJ + V	start a car engine without using the key	He hot-wired a van and drove it through a prison fence.
CW06		bad-mouth	HC | ADJ + V	say unpleasant things about somebody	His former colleagues accused him of bad-mouthing them publicly.
CW06		double-cross	HC | ADJ + V	cheat or trick somebody who trusts you	Jim says that she would even double-cross her own mother.
CW06		role-play	HC | N + V	pretending to be someone else	The kids sang songs in Spanish and role-played with puppets.
CW06		fast-track	HC | ADJ + V	make sb's progress in achieving sth	The good news is that they will fast-track the bill for a vote next week.
CW06		sweet-talk	HC | ADJ + V	try to persuade someone by being nice	The shop assistant tried to sweet-talk me into buying a bigger bed.
CW12
CW12		mass-produce	HC | N + V	produce in great quantities	Ford was the first to mass-produce the automobile on an assembly line.
CW12		bookmark	CC | N + V	save the address of a page on the net	I want to bookmark this site and keep checking for new information.
CW12		highlight	CC | ADJ + V	emphasise something important	We must highlight that the system can hardly be inaccurate.
CW12		nickname	CC | N + V	give a nickname to sth or sb	The campsite has been nicknamed 'tent city' by visiting reporters.
CW12		roller-skate	HC | N + V	move on roller-skates	On the day of the accident, he was roller-skating outside our house.
CW12		daydream	CC | N + V	have pleasant thoughts	Instead of studying, she was daydreaming about her holidays.
CW12		hitchhike	CC | V + N	get a free ride from a passing car	Travel is cheap if you fly, and easy and free if you hitchhike.
CW12		proofread	CC | N + V	read and correct mistakes in	Before handing in her application to his teacher, she proofread it again.
CW12		babysit	CC | N + V	remain in a house to look after a child	I was wondering if Helen could babysit tomorrow night.
CW12		shipwreck	CC | N + V	destroy a ship by grounding	Off the coast, their ship was caught in a sudden storm and shipwrecked.
CW13
CW13		dry-clean	HC | ADJ + V	clean clothes with chemicals	How much does it cost to dry-clean and iron three shirts?
CW13		broadcast	CC | ADJ + V	send out radio and TV programmes	This programme will be broadcast with subtitles for the hard of hearing.
CW13		water-ski	HC | N + V	ride on water skis	My brother Tom is always happy, he taught me to water-ski.
CW13		blackmail	CC | V + V	use blackmail against someone	They used the photographs to blackmail him into spying for them.
CW13		double-click	HC | N + V	click a mouse button twice	If you double-click a word in the document, that word is selected.
CW13		troubleshoot	CC | N + V	analyse or diagnose a problem	They spent some time before bedtime troubleshooting the problem.
CW13		ice-skate	HC | N + V	move across ice using ice skates	I can't believe you're going to teach me how to ice-skate!
CW13		test-drive	HC | N + V	drive a vehicle in order to evaluate it	Ten to fifteen minutes is all that's required for a good test-drive.
CW13		overlook	CC | ADV + V	fail to see or notice something	He was generous enough to overlook my little mistake.
COMPOUND NOUNS
CW07		intake	CC | ADV + N	the amount of sth that you eat or drink	You should make sure you have a balanced intake of vitamins.
CW07		outskirts	CC | ADV + N	the outer parts of a town or city	The factory is on a large industrial estate on the outskirts of town.
CW07		aftermath	CC | ADV + N	the consequences of an event	Both men died before their times in the chaotic aftermath of revolution.
CW07		onslaught	CC | ADV + N	a very powerful attack	In May they launched a full-scale onslaught on the capital.
CW07		inset	CC | ADV + N	a small picture inside a larger one	The inset on the following page shows more detail of the area.
CW07		downturn	CC | ADV + N	a reduction in business activity	The downturn in business has resulted in many retrenchments.
CW07		backdrop	CC | ADV + N	the view behind something	The Alps provided the perfect backdrop for a romantic holiday.
CW07		underdog	CC | ADV + N	a person who has little status in society	The vice-president is now the underdog in this race for presidency.
CW07		outcast	CC | ADV + N	someone who isn't wanted	After hs divorce Ken was treated as an outcast by his family.
CW07		about-turn	HC | ADV + N	a change of opinion, position or policy	These new measures indicate an about-turn in government policy.
CW08
CW08		outcry	CC | ADV + N	a strong expression of public anger	The proposed changes caused an angry outcry from residents.
CW08		downfall	CC | ADV + N	a loss of power, prosperity, or status	He was found guilty of plotting the downfall of the government.
CW08		underpass	CC | ADV + N	a road or path that goes under sth	Take the zebra crossing or underpass to cross the road.
CW08		afterglow	CC | ADV + N	a glow remaining when a light has gone	Telescopes in space quickly moved to observe the afterglow.
CW08		inlet	CC | ADV + N	a small arm of the sea, a lake, or a river	They went to a fishing village on a small inlet of the sea.
CW08		afterglow	CC | ADV + N	a glow remaining when a light has gone	Telescopes in space quickly moved to observe the afterglow.
CW08		back catalogue	OC | ADV + N	all the works of a specific artist	The record label's entire back catalogue was up for sale.
CW08		onrush	CC | ADV + N	a strong, fast movement forward	They were captured in the first victorious onrush of the German armies.
CW08		heirloom	CC | N + N	sth passed down in a family for years	This heirloom has been passed down in the family for generations.
CW08		overhaul	CC | ADV + N	a thorough examination of machinery	The engine underwent a complete overhaul three years ago.
CW08		offshoot	CC | ADV + N	sth that develops from sth larger	The company was originally an offshoot of Bell Telephones.
CW09
CW09		runner-up	HC | N + ADV	sb who has finished in second place	In war, there is no second prize for the runner-up.
CW09		has-been	HC | V + V	a person who was famous, important	I guess he's not aware that he's already a has-been .
CW09		stick-in-the-mud	HC | M + N	someone who is slow, old-fashioned	My neighbor is a real stick-in-the-mud, and she's only twenty-nine.
CW09		go-ahead	HC | N + ADV	permission to do something	The company has been given the go-ahead to build a new cinema.
CW09		half-wit	HC | ADV + N	a person who lacks intelligence	Of course I don't believe Greg is a half-wit. So why did you say it?
CW09		rake-off	HC | N + ADV	a profit that is usually earned illegally	Chris promised to give us a big rake-off on the deal.
CW09		man-of-war	HC | N + N	a ship used in the past for fighting	The man-of-war was developed in Portugal in the early 15th century.
CW09		make-believe	HC | N + V	things that are imagined	The violence in those films was too unreal, it was make-believe.
CW09		stock-in-trade	HC | N + N	sth that is typical of a particular person	Friendly persuasion is the stock-in-trade of every salesman.
CW09		jack-of-all-trades	HC | N + N	sb who can do many different jobs	Her brother is a jack-of-all-trades, and he has had many different jobs.
CW14
CW14		sunbathing	CC | N + PPR	sitting or lying outside in the sun	We spent most of my holiday sunbathing by the swimming pool.
CW14		greenhouse	CC | ADJ + N	a building with glass walls and roof	Delicate plants need to be kept in a greenhouse during the winter.
CW14		magnifying glass	OC | ADJ + N	a building with glass walls and roof	To see this clearly, a magnifying glass is really essential.
CW14		underground	CC | ADV + N	an underground railway system in a city	In central London, the underground is paralysed, bridges are closed.
CW14		full moon	OC | ADJ + N	the moon when it appears as a full circle	The sky was clear and a full moon shone, lighting the landscape.
CW14		frying pan	OC | ADJ + N	a flat metal pan with a long handle	Pour half of the olive oil into a frying pan and add the tomatoes.
CW14		tennis court	OC | N + N	a large area that you play tennis on	Players complained about the uneven bounce of the tennis court.
CW14		sign language	OC | N + N	a language that uses hand gestures	They communicate with each other using sign language.
CW14		blood pressure	OC | N + N	the pressure of the blood in the vessels	Salt intake may lead to raised blood pressure in susceptible adults.
CW14		driving licence	OC | PPR + N	a certificate showing that you can drive	To hire a car you must produce a passport and a current driving licence.
CW15
CW15		gateway	CC | N + N	an opening for a gate	We walked across the park and through a gateway.
CW15		clockwork	CC | N + N	machinery with wheels and springs	Wind the clock back far enough and the clockwork goes awry.
CW15		nightmare	CC | N + N	a frightening dream or experience	The trip turned into a nightmare when we both got sick.
CW15		notebook	CC | N + N	a book for notes or memoranda	She took my name and address, scribbling it down in her notebook.
CW15		wallpaper	CC | N + N	decorative paper for the walls of a room	I saw a wallpaper today that would be just right for the bedroom.
CW15		flashlight	CC | N + N	a portable hand-held electric light	The man searched the whole house with a flashlight inside out.
CW15		butterfly	CC | N + N	an insect with large coloured wings	To become a butterfly, a caterpillar first digests itself.
CW15		honeymoon	CC | N + N	a trip taken by a newly married couple	Ann and Billy can't decide where to go for their honeymoon.
CW15		limestone	CC | N + N	a white or light grey rock	The bust and cushion was carved from a single piece of limestone.
CW15		thunderstorm	CC | N + N	a storm with thunder and lightning	Water rushed through the gutters during the heavy thunderstorm.
CW16
CW16		raincoat	CC | N + N	a coat that you wear when it rains	This kind of raincoat is made of very durable material.
CW16		handbag	CC | N + N	a woman's small bag or purse	Helen beat off her attacker by hitting him with her handbag.
CW16		sweatshirt	CC | N + N	a loose warm piece of casual clothing	He was wearing baggy jeans and a striped blue sweatshirt.
CW16		footwear	CC | N + N	things that people wear on their feet	Be sure to wear the correct footwear to prevent injuries to your feet.
CW16		top hat	OC | N + N	a tall, black or grey hat worn by men	Mark used to wear dinner suits with cufflinks and a top hat.
CW16		seafood	CC | N + N	animals from the sea that can be eaten	She got food poisoning at that cheap little seafood restaurant.
CW16		blackberry	CC | N + N	a black or dark purple berry	Our fingers were stained purple with blackberry juice.
CW16		cupcake	CC | N + N	a small cake with icing on top	He enjoyed a cupcake, and all was photographed by the paparazzi.
CW16		mealtime	CC | N + N	the time at which a meal is eaten	At mealtimes Ann takes her place at the small table.
CW16		sunflower	CC | N + N	a very tall plant with large yellow flowers	Oil from sunflower seeds is used in cooking and to make margarine.
CW16		armchair	CC | N + N	a comfortable chair with sides	Derek settled down in an armchair to watch television.
CW16		bookcase	CC | N + N	a piece of furniture with shelves	This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.
CW16		doormat	CC | N + N	a mat, usually placed before a door	They wiped their muddy feet on the doormat.
CW16		bathroom	CC | N + N	a room where there is a bath or shower	She realised suddenly that she had to go to the bathroom.
CW16		fireplace	CC | N + N	a place for a domestic fire	On Sundays, we gathered around the fireplace and talked.
CW16		postman	CC | N + N	a man who collects and delivers mail	The postman rang the bell because he had a parcel to deliver.
CW16		caretaker	CC | N + N	a person who takes care of buildings	The caretaker opens up the school every morning at six.
CW16		boyfriend	CC | N + N	a male romantic partner	She was living with her boyfriend for a year and then she dumped him.
CW16		goalkeeper	CC | N + N	a player who defends the goal	The goalkeeper bounced the ball twice before kicking it.
CW16		grandson	CC | N + N	the son of one's son or daughter	There is a strange empathy between the old lady and her grandson.
CW17
CW17		sleeping bag	OC | ADJ + N	a large, thick bag for sleeping in	A good sleeping bag is an essential part of every camper's equipment.
CW17		newspaper	CC | N + N	a daily publication on folded sheets	The newspaper article caused the musician considerable distress.
CW17		safety pin	OC | N + N	a metal pin used for attaching things	Can I borrow a safety pin? My button's come off.
CW17		earring	CC | N + N	a piece of jewelry worn on the ear	Margaret was wearing a diamond necklace with matching earrings.
CW17		briefcase	CC | N + N	a flat case used for carrying papers	He wore a torn suit and carried a battered briefcase.
CW17		phone directory	OC | N + N	a book listing the names, telephones	I couldn't find her number in the telephone directory.
CW17		hairbrush	CC | N + N	a brush for smoothing a person's hair	She picked up the hairbrush and smoothed her hair once more.
CW17		sun cream	OC | N + N	a cream that absorbs ultraviolet rays	Can you rub some sun cream on my back for me?
CW17		shoelace	CC | N + N	a lace or string for fastening a shoe	He asked his tennis partner to hold up so he could tie his shoelace.
CW17		noticeboard	CC | N + N	a board for displaying notices	All the exam results will be displayed on the noticeboard.
CW18
CW18		homework	CC | N + N	work that a pupil is given to do at home	He's supposed to do an hour's homework every evening.
CW18		dining room	OC | N + N	a room for consuming food	The house has a kitchen, living room and dining room downstairs.
CW18		notebook	CC | N + N	a book for notes or memoranda	The police officer wrote the details down in his notebook.
CW18		paper clip	OC | N + N	a tool used to hold papers together	Fasten these bills together with a paper clip, please.
CW18		waterfall	CC | N + N	a steep fall or flow of water	We couldn't hear what she was saying over the thunder of the waterfall.
CW18		football	CC | N + N	a game played by 2 teams using a ball	His running commentary on the football match was excellent.
CW18		household	CC | N + N	the people living together in one house	He grew up in a large household, with three brothers and two sisters.
CW18		sunshine	CC | N + N	the sun's light or direct rays	A ray of sunshine shone through a gap in the clouds.
CW18		bus stop	OC | N + N	a place where a bus regularly stops	A large group of students stood in a huddle at the bus stop.
CW18		airport	CC | N + N	a place where planes land and take off	Night flights from the airport are deeply unpopular.