Holonyms and Meronyms: Vocabulary Building

Book excerpt: What are “Holonyms and Meronyms”? HOLONYMS ---- [Holo- Whole; -Onym: Name] Holonym is a word that denotes a thing that is complete in itself and whose part, member or substance is represented by another word. Holonym [singular] | Holonyms [plural] Example: ‘Bird’ is a holonym of ‘Feather’. Derived terms related to ‘Holonyms’: Holonymous Words that are Holonyms are said to be Holonymous. Holonymy The state of being a Holonym is called Holonymy. MERONYMS ---- [Mero- Part; -Onym: Name] Meronym is a word that denotes a constituent part, member or substance of something that is complete in itself. Meronym [singular] | Meronyms [plural] Example: ‘Feather’ is a meronym of ‘Bird’. Derived terms related to ‘Meronyms’: Meronymous Words that are Meronyms are said to be Meronymous. Meronymy The state of being a Meronym is called Meronymy. Holonyms and Meronyms -- A Holonym / Meronym -- Example A1 -- Holonym -- air-conditioner Meronyms -- blower / compressor / condenser coil / control panel / cooling coil / evaporator coil / expansion valve / fan / motor / temperature sensing bulb / thermostat Holonym / Meronym -- Example A2 -- Holonym -- airplane (aeroplane) Meronyms -- aileron / altimeter / black box / cabin / cargo / cockpit / cowling / elevator / fin / flap / flight deck / fuselage / galley / hatch / jet engine / leading edge / nose / propeller / rudder / seat / slat / tail / trailing edge / undercarriage / wing Holonym / Meronym -- Example A3 -- Holonym -- airport Meronyms -- airplane / airstrip / air terminal / control tower / hangar / lounge / taxiway / terminal Holonym / Meronym -- Example A4 -- Holonym -- algae Meronyms -- cell membrane / cell wall / chloroplast / cytoplasm / flagellum / nucleolus / nucleus / starch vacuole Holonym / Meronym -- Example A5 -- Holonym -- atom Meronyms -- electron / neutron / proton Other Examples: Holonym / Meronym -- Example A6 – ‘abacus’ is the holonym of ‘wire’ wire’ is a meronym of ‘abacus’ Holonym / Meronym -- Example A7 – ‘album’ is the holonym of ‘photograph’ ‘photograph’ is a meronym of ‘album’ Holonym / Meronym -- Example A8 -- ‘asparagus’ is the holonym of ‘spear’ ‘spear’ is a meronym of ‘asparagus’ Holonym / Meronym -- Example A9 -- ‘atmosphere’ is the holonym of ‘stratosphere’ ‘stratosphere’ is a meronym of ‘atmosphere’