Meaning & Definition of word "Portmanteau"
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Portmanteau
/ˌpɔːrtˈmæn.toʊ/
noun:
- 1. A large suitcase or a bag that opens into two compartments.
- Example: She packed her clothes into a stylish leather portmanteau for the weekend trip.
- 2. A word that is formed by blending the sounds and meanings of two or more words.
- Example: The term 'brunch' is a famous portmanteau of breakfast and lunch.
- 3. A suitcase that has two compartments but is more modernly used to refer to a combination of two words.
- Example: His portmanteau held all his travel essentials, making it easy to carry from place to place.
Etymology
From French 'portemanteau', which means 'carry' and 'manteau' meaning 'coat'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
portmanteau word:
A word formed by combining the sounds and meanings of two words.
portmanteau suitcase:
A large, versatile suitcase with multiple compartments.
Related Words
blend:
A mixture or combination of different elements.
compound:
A word formed from two or more words.
Slang Meanings of portmanteau
Meaning: A clever or catchy word that is fun to say.
Example Sentence: That new portmanteau they came up with is really catchy!
Meaning: A term used for jargon that merges two concepts.
Example Sentence: In tech, we often use portmanteaus to describe new innovations.