Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
de
Prefix
dē
Definition
A prefix used in various contexts, primarily to indicate removal, reversal, or negation.
Examples
- Dehydrate: to remove water from.
- Debrief: to question someone about a completed mission or event.
- Deforest: to remove trees from a forested area.
Meaning
In linguistic terms, ‘de’ is often used to create words that mean the opposite of the base word.
Synonyms
- Un-, as in undo.
- Dis-, as in disapprove.
- Non-, as in nonessential.
