Meaning & Definition of word "Portmanteau"
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.