reduplication

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a word-formation process in which all or part of a word, root, or syllable is repeated

   The linguist described the repeated syllable in bye-bye as reduplication.

2. 2
   noun

   the act or result of forming an additional copy of a structure or part, especially in anatomy or development

   The scan revealed a rare reduplication of part of the urinary tract.

From Late Latin reduplicatio, from reduplicare ("to double again"), built from re- ("again") and duplicare ("to double"). Linguistics adopted the term for grammatical repetition of sounds or word material; anatomy uses it for duplicated structures.

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