Attributive Nouns

The italicized label often attributive placed after the functional label noun indicates that the noun is often used as an adjective equivalent in attributive position before another noun:

Main Entry: gold
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive

Main Entry: busi.ness
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive

Examples of the attributive use of these nouns are gold chain and business ethics.

While any noun may occasionally be used attributively, the label often attributive is limited to those having broad attributive use. This label is not used when an adjective homograph (as iron or paper) is entered. And it is not used at open compounds (as X ray ) that may be used attributively with an inserted hyphen (as in X-ray therapy).

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