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View synonyms for plural

plural

[ ploor-uhl ]

adjective

  1. consisting of, containing, or pertaining to more than one.
  2. pertaining to or involving a plurality of persons or things.
  3. being one of such a plurality.
  4. Grammar. noting or pertaining to a member of the category of number, found in many languages, indicating that a word has more than one referent, as in English men, or more than two referents, as in Old English ge, meaning “you.”


noun

, Grammar.
  1. the plural number.
  2. a form in the plural.

plural

/ ˈplʊərəl /

adjective

  1. containing, involving, or composed of more than one person, thing, item, etc

    a plural society

  2. denoting a word indicating that more than one referent is being referred to or described
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. grammar
    1. the plural number
    2. a plural form
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

plural

  1. The grammatical category in nouns , pronouns , and verbs that refers to more than one thing. Most nouns become plural with the addition of -s or -es : hats , chairs , dishes , countries , and so on. Some nouns form the plural in other ways, as in children , feet , geese , and women . ( Compare singular ; see agreement .)


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Derived Forms

  • ˈplurally, adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of plural1

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin plūrālis, equivalent to plūr-, stem of plūs plus + -alis -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of plural1

C14: from Old French plurel, from Late Latin plūrālis concerning many, from Latin plūs more
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Example Sentences

Well, it’s great because you captured one of the things I was thinking, that data is not the plural of anecdote, per se.

Overall, I wish Isaacson had created more of a mosaic, one similar to his history of the early computer industry — “The Innovators,” properly plural.

While the story of “Sea” was told by a poetic plural narrator and meandered through a hazy dystopian landscape, “My Year Abroad” is set in the present day and punctuated by the colorful and vibrant language of a college kid.

If you think all of that is interesting, get a lot of this - in the Appalachian and Western Pennsylvania region of the United States, they came up with the word "yinz" in order to address the plural you.

Let's break down all of the ways you can address the plural you.

And the plural could be knaidels, or knaidelach, or knaidlach, or knaideluch.

As GO is a word referring to the game, so its plural gos is.

Actually, the issue of plural vs. singular is orthogonal to the dilemma she wants to pose.

Illuminati is the plural of illuminatus, which means “enlightened.”

But as a great mentor once told me, the plural of anecdote is not data.

The Provençal has not even the formal distinction of the nouns in al, which in French make their plural in aux.

For word Percy printed words, quite forgetting that the M.E. plural is dissyllabic (word-es).

In the same letter he admits that he had close relations with Spain, and throughout uses the first person plural.

The use of the plural possessive thrilled the heart of the workers; the club was a family possession.

Like numerous other nouns, it has its diminutive in os, its plural in wug, and its local form in ing.

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More About Plural

What does plural mean?

In grammar, a plural is a noun that refers to more than one. For example, the noun cats is the plural of the noun cat and means more than one cat.

Plural also describes something that consists of, contains, or relates to more than one of something, as in A plural society is made up of more than one cultural group in which everyone practices their own culture.

Example: The plural form of ox is oxen.

Where does plural come from?

The first records of the term plural come from around 1350. It ultimately comes from the Latin plūrālis. It combines the Latin stem plūr-, meaning “plus,” and the suffix -alis, meaning “of the kind of” or “relating to.” However it’s used, plural has this sense of “more than one.”

In English, many nouns are made plural by adding -s (dogs) or -es (boxes) to the end of the word. The plural of some nouns is different from the singular noun, such as mice for more than one mouse and children for more than one child. We call these nouns irregular because they don’t follow the rule.

Pronouns can also be plural. When a pronoun refers to more than one person or thing, that’s a plural pronoun. You can read more about plural pronouns in the article, “What Is A Pronoun?

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What are some other forms related to plural?

What are some synonyms for plural?

What are some words that share a root or word element with plural

What are some words that often get used in discussing plural?

How is plural used in real life?

Plural is a commonly used grammar term. Its other senses are less likely to be used in everyday conversation.

 

 

Try using plural!

True or False? 

Plural nouns are always formed by adding -s or -es.

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PLURpluralism