NOUNS

The plurals of nouns are shown in this dictionary when suffixation brings about a change of final -y to -i-, when the noun ends in a consonant plus -o or in -ey, when the noun ends in -oo, when the noun has an irregular plural or a zero plural or a foreign plural, when the noun is a compound that pluralizes any element but the last, when a final consonant is doubled, when the noun has variant plurals, and when it is believed that the dictionary user might have reasonable doubts about the spelling of the plural or when the plural is spelled in a way contrary to expectations:

Main Entry: ²spy
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural spies

Main Entry: si.lo
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural silos

Main Entry: ¹ro.deo
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural ro.de.os

Main Entry: ²shampoo
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural shampoos

Main Entry: ¹mouse
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural mice

Main Entry: moose
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural moose

Main Entry: cri.te.ri.on
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ria

Main Entry: son-in-law
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural sons-in-law

Main Entry: ¹quiz
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural quiz.zes

Main Entry: ¹fish
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural fish or fish.es

Main Entry: cor.gi
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural corgis

Main Entry: ³dry
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural drys

Cutback inflected forms are used when the noun has three or more syllables:

Main Entry: ame.ni.ty
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties

The plurals of nouns are usually not shown when the base word is unchanged by suffixation, when the noun is a compound whose second element is readily recognizable as a regular free form entered at its own place, or when the noun is unlikely to occur in the plural:

Main Entry: ¹night
Function: noun

Main Entry: ²crunch
Function: noun

Main Entry: fore.foot
Function: noun

Main Entry: mo.nog.a.my
Function: noun

Nouns that are plural in form and that regularly occur in plural construction are labeled noun plural:

Main Entry: munch.ies
Function: noun plural

Nouns that are plural in form but that are not always construed as plurals are appropriately labeled:

Main Entry: ro.bot.ics
Function: noun plural but singular in construction

Main Entry: two bits
Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction

A noun that is singular in construction takes a singular verb when it is used as a subject; a noun that is plural in construction takes a plural verb when it is used as a subject.

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