English Online Dictionary. What means prefix? What does prefix mean?
English
Alternative forms
- præfix (obsolete)
- prefixe (for the verb; obsolete)
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French prefixer (verb) resp. Late Latin praefixum (noun), both from Latin praefixus, past participle of praefīgō (“I (fix, fasten, set up) in front”, “I fix on the (end, extremity)”) (from prae- (“before”) + fīgō (“I fix”, “I fasten”, “I affix”)), equivalent to pre- + -fix.
Pronunciation
- (noun) IPA(key): /ˈpɹiːfɪks/, /pɹɛˈfɪks/
- (verb) IPA(key): /ˈpɹiːfɪks/, /pɹiːˈfɪks/, /pɹɛˈfɪks/
- Rhymes: -ɪks
Noun
prefix (plural prefixes)
- Something placed before another
- (grammar, linguistic morphology) A morpheme added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning, for example as, pre- in prefix, con- in conjure, re- in reheat, etc.
- Synonyms: (rare) foresyllable, (archaic) prefixum
- Antonym: suffix
- Hypernyms: (broad sense) affix, morpheme
- (telecommunications) A set of digits placed before a telephone number, to indicate where the number is based, what type of phone number it is (landline, mobile, toll-free, premium rate etc.)
- A title added to a person's name, such as Mr. or Dr.
- (computing) An initial segment of a string of characters.
- (grammar, linguistic morphology) A morpheme added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning, for example as, pre- in prefix, con- in conjure, re- in reheat, etc.
Usage notes
- Though much less common, a plural form prefices is seen as well, apparently formed by analogy with index–indices, appendix–appendices, and so on, but it is not a standard plural and has no basis in Latin.
Synonyms
- forefix (rare)
Coordinate terms
- (types of affixes): adfix, affix, ambifix, circumfix, confix, disfix, duplifix, infix, interfix, libfix, postfix, prefixoid, simulfix, suffix, suffixoid, suprafix, transfix
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
prefix (third-person singular simple present prefixes, present participle prefixing, simple past and past participle prefixed)
- (transitive) To determine beforehand; to set in advance. [from 15thc.]
- (transitive) To put or fix before, or at the beginning of something; to place at the start. [from 16thc.]
Related terms
Translations
See also
- Appendix:English nationality prefixes
- Category:English prefixes
- coverb
Further reading
- prefix on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- “prefix”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “prefix”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Anagrams
- perfix
Catalan
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin praefixum, from Latin praefixus.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): (Central, Balearic) [pɾəˈfiks]
- IPA(key): (Valencian) [pɾeˈfiks]
Noun
prefix m (plural prefixos)
- prefix
Czech
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈprɛfɪks]
- Rhymes: -ɪks
- Hyphenation: pre‧fix
Noun
prefix m inan
- prefix
- Synonym: předpona
Declension
This noun needs an inflection-table template.
Derived terms
Further reading
- prefix in Kartotéka Novočeského lexikálního archivu
- prefix in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
Dutch
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈpreːfɪks/
Etymology 1
Borrowed from post-Classical Latin praefixum, nominal use of the neuter form of Classical Latin praefixus, past participle of praefīgō (“I (fix, fasten, set up) in front”, “I fix on the (end, extremity)”) — the noun directly thence, whereas the adjective via French préfixe.
Alternative forms
- praefix (archaic)
Noun
prefix n or m (plural prefixen, diminutive prefixje n)
- prefix
- Synonym: voorvoegsel
- Antonyms: suffix, achtervoegsel
Etymology 2
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Adjective
prefix (not comparable)
- (obsolete) fixed, predetermined
Inflection
Occitan
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin praefixum, from Latin praefixus.
Noun
prefix m
- (grammar) prefix
Related terms
- sufix
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from French préfixe, from Latin praefixus.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /pɾeˈfiks/
Noun
prefix n (plural prefixe)
- prefix
- Antonym: sufix
Declension
Related terms
Swedish
Noun
prefix n
- (grammar) prefix