Preposition

[,prepə'zɪʃ(ə)n] or [,prɛpə'zɪʃən]

Definition

(noun.) a function word that combines with a noun or pronoun or noun phrase to form a prepositional phrase that can have an adverbial or adjectival relation to some other word.

(noun.) (linguistics) the placing of one linguistic element before another (as placing a modifier before the word it modifies in a sentence or placing an affix before the base to which it is attached).

Checked by Debbie--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) A word employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word; a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word; -- so called because usually placed before the word with which it is phrased; as, a bridge of iron; he comes from town; it is good for food; he escaped by running.

(n.) A proposition; an exposition; a discourse.

Editor: Stanton

Definition

n. a word placed before a noun or pronoun to show its relation to some other word of the sentence.—adj. Preposi′tional.—adv. Preposi′tionally.—adj. Preposi′tive put before: prefixed.—n. a word or particle put before another word—opp. to Post-positive.—n. Prepos′itor a school-monitor.

Checked by Aubrey