HYPHEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hyphen mean? 

• HYPHEN (noun)
  The noun HYPHEN has 1 sense:

1. a punctuation mark (-) used between parts of a compound word or between the syllables of a word when the word is divided at the end of a line of text

  Familiarity information: HYPHEN used as a noun is very rare.

• HYPHEN (verb)
  The verb HYPHEN has 1 sense:

1. divide or connect with a hyphen

  Familiarity information: HYPHEN used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HYPHEN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A punctuation mark (-) used between parts of a compound word or between the syllables of a word when the word is divided at the end of a line of text

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

dash; hyphen

Hypernyms ("hyphen" is a kind of...):

punctuation; punctuation mark (the marks used to clarify meaning by indicating separation of words into sentences and clauses and phrases)

Derivation:

hyphen; hyphenate (divide or connect with a hyphen)

• HYPHEN (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Divide or connect with a hyphen

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

hyphen; hyphenate

Context example:

hyphenate these words and names

Hypernyms (to "hyphen" is one way to...):

spell; write (write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

hyphen (a punctuation mark (-) used between parts of a compound word or between the syllables of a word when the word is divided at the end of a line of text)

 Context examples 

Sequences are represented in the standard IUB/IUPAC single letter amino acid and nucleic acid codes, with a single hyphen or dash being used to represent a gap of indeterminate length; in amino acid sequences asterix (*) can represent a translation stop.

(FASTA Format, NCI Thesaurus)