attributive C2 Topic:Communication UK /əˈtɹɪ.bju.tɪv/ See IPA manual Freq #1419313 Meanings 1 adj Describing a word, usually an adjective, that comes directly before the noun it modifies. In "a tall building," the word "tall" is attributive, but in "the building is tall," it is predicative. 2 noun An attributive word or phrase, one that modifies a noun while standing directly before it. In "the kitchen table," the word "kitchen" functions as an attributive. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · describing a word, usually... prenominal Word family Derived forms attributivelyattributivenessmultiattributivenonattributiveunattributive Related forms attribute Common collocations attributive genitive Adjective + noun Etymology AI details From attribute + -ive. Topics Communication Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # attributive **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** adj, noun **IPA (UK):** /əˈtɹɪ.bju.tɪv/ **Frequency rank:** 1419313 ## Meanings 1. Describing a word, usually an adjective, that comes directly before the noun it modifies. 2. An attributive word or phrase, one that modifies a noun while standing directly before it. ## Examples - In "a tall building," the word "tall" is attributive, but in "the building is tall," it is predicative. - In "the kitchen table," the word "kitchen" functions as an attributive. ## Derived Forms - attributively - attributiveness - multiattributive - nonattributive - unattributive ## Related Forms - attribute ## Etymology From attribute + -ive. ## AI Etymology Attributive is from attribute + -ive. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. Current senses include describing a word, usually an adjective, that comes directly before the noun it modifies and an attributive word or phrase, one that modifies a noun while standing directly before it. The wider family includes derived forms such as attributively, attributiveness, multiattributive, nonattributive, and unattributive and related words such as attribute. ## Topics - Communication - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown