co-op
UK[ˈkəʊ ɒp]US[ˈkoʊ ɑːp]
n
A cooperative business or enterprise, owned and run by its members for their mutual benefit.
n
A building owned and managed by a cooperative.
Morpheme Breakdown
co
op
co
together
op
operate
Etymology
The word 'co-op' is a modern clipping and compounding of the longer term 'cooperative society'. The prefix 'co-', derived from Latin 'com-', carries the ancient sense of 'togetherness' and collective action. It is attached to the truncated root 'op', extracted from 'operation', which originates from the Latin verb 'operari' (to work, toil). The literal morphemic construction 'work together' perfectly encapsulates the modern abstract meaning of a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise where members collaborate for shared economic benefit, evolving from 19th-century social movements.
Analysis
Structure: co (together) + op (operate)
- 'co': A prefix from Latin 'com-', meaning 'together', 'with', or 'jointly'. It functions as a combining form indicating joint action or partnership.
- 'op': A clipped form of the word 'operate' or 'operation', from Latin 'operari' meaning 'to work'. It functions as the core root indicating work or action.
Examples
They buy all their organic produce from the local food co-op.
After graduating, she moved into an affordable artists' co-op in the city.
The farm became a successful worker-owned co-op.