Definition:

A compound noun is two or more words linked together to produce a word with a new meaning:
tooth + brush = toothbrush. eco + friendly = eco-friendly. animal + lover = animal lover.

Closed or Solid Compound Nouns

It is one in which the two words do not have any spaces or hyphens
separating them. They are usually considered as a single word.

Sunflower. Classroom. Rainfall.

Hyphenated Compound Nouns

A hyphenated compound noun is one in which the two words are
separated using a hyphen.

By-product. Mother-in-law. Passer-by.

Spaced or Open Compound Noun.
A spaced or open compound noun is one in which there is a space
between the two words which form the compound. noun.

Cricket bat. Fast food. Flower shop.

Forming Compound Nouns: You can form compound nouns by combining different parts of speech.
Noun + Noun
Check out the following examples of compound nouns formed using two separate nouns.

Compound Noun Noun Noun

Bus stop Bus Stop

Firefly Fire Fly

Basketball Basket Ball

Railway Station Railway Station

Football Foot Ball

Railway Junction Railway Junction

Airport Air Port

Headmistress Head Mistress

Ship deck Ship Deck

Sweatshirt Sweat Shirt

 Noun + Verb
Have a look at the following compound nouns formed using a noun and a verb.

Compound Noun Noun Verb

Haircut Hair Cut

Sunrise Sun Rise

Sunset Sun Set

Rainfall Rain Fall

Snowfall Snow Fall

Footprint Foot Print

Roleplay Role Play

Healthcare Health Care

Gunfight Gun Fight

 Noun + Gerund
Look at the following compound nouns formed using a combination of a noun and a gerund (verb+ing).

Compound Noun Noun Gerund

Sightseeing Sight Seeing

Birdwatching Bird Watching

Handwriting Hand Writing

Mountain climbing Mountain Climbing

River rafting River Rafting

Copy-editing Copy Editing

Ballet dancing Ballet Dancing

Bookkeeping Book Keeping

Cat walking Cat Walking

Time consuming Time Consuming

 Gerund + Noun
Check out the following examples of compound nouns by combining a gerund and a noun.

Compound Noun Gerund Noun

Washing machine Washing Machine

Dressing table Dressing Table

Magnifying lens Magnifying Lens

Visiting card Visiting Card

Fishing net Fishing Net

Driving licence Driving Licence

Sewing machine Sewing Machine

Cooking gas Cooking Gas

Waiting room Waiting Room

Helping hand Helping Hand

 Noun + Preposition + Noun/Noun + Prepositional Phrase
Given below are compound nouns formed by combining a noun and a preposition phrase.

Compound Noun Noun Prepositional Phrase

Mother-in-law Mother In-law

Father-in-law Father In-law

Sister-in-law Sister In-law

Brother-in-law Brother In-law

Son-in-law Son In-law

Daughter-in-law Daughter In-law

Lady-in-waiting Lady In-waiting

Jack-of-all-trades Jack Of-all-trades

 Preposition + Verb
Have a look at the compound nouns given below formed by combining a preposition and a verb.

Compound Noun Preposition Verb

Output Out Put

Input In Put

Outlet Out Let

Understand Under Stand

Overthrow Over Throw

Undercut Under Cut

Underpass Under Pass

Intake In Take

Uproar Up Roar

Outburst Out Burst

 Verb + Preposition
Given below are examples of compound nouns formed by a combination of a verb and a preposition.

Compound Noun Verb Preposition

Check-in Check In

Check-out Check Out

Check-up Check Up

Lookout Look Out

Breakdown Break Down

Shutdown Shut Down

Makeup Make Up

Take-out Take Out

Buildup Build Up

Sign-off Sign Off

 Preposition + Noun
Here are a few examples of compound nouns formed by the combination of a preposition and a noun.

Compound Noun Preposition Noun

Underground Under Ground

Afterlife After Life

Underworld Under World

Background Back Ground

Offshore Off Shore

Outpatient Out Patient

Upstairs Up Stairs

Offspring Off Spring

Overnight Over Night

Underline Under Line

 Adjective + Noun
Check out the following compound nouns formed by combining an adjective and a noun.

Compound Noun Adjective Noun

Blackboard Black Board

Greenroom Green Room

Granddaughter Grand Daughter

Hardware Hard Ware

Hot dog Hot Dog

Smartphone Smart Phone

Bluebird Blue Bird

Small talk Small Talk

Blueberry Blue Berry

Hotspot Hot Spot

 Adjective + Verb
Have a look at the following compound nouns formed by combining an adjective and a verb.

Compound Noun Adjective Verb

Drycleaning Dry Cleaning

Underfed Under Fed

Long awaited Long Awaited

Public speaking Public Speaking

Long lasting Long Lasting

Everlasting Ever Lasting

Highlight High Light

 Repetitive Words / Rhyming Words
Look at the following compound nouns formed by a combination of two rhyming words or repetitive words.
Compound Noun Word 1 Word 2

Hocus-pocus Hocus Pocus

Dillydally Dilly Dally

Boo-boo Boo Boo

Walkie-talkie Walkie Talkie

No-no No No

Argle-bargle Argle Bargle

Chit-chat Chit Chat

Artsy-fartsy Artsy Fartsy

Fiddle-faddle Fiddle Faddle

Goo-goo Goo Goo

Mumbo-jumbo Mumbo Jumbo

Pitter-patter Pitter Patter

 Places, Nationalities and Titles
Here are some compound nouns that refer to places, nationalities and titles.

Compound Noun Word 1 Word 2

Prime Minister Prime Minister

Chief Minister Chief Minister

Vice President Vice President

Joint Secretary Joint Secretary

Assistant Director Assistant Director

General Manager General Manager Compound Noun Word 1 Word 2

Personal Assistant Personal Assistant Great grandmother Great Grandmother

Circle Inspector Circle Inspector Salesperson Sales Person

Latin American Latin American

South Korea South Korea

Native American Native American

Middle East Middle East

Anglo-Saxon Anglo Saxon

Anglo-Indian Anglo Indian