roundup
UK[ˈraʊndʌp]US[ˈraʊndˌʌp]
n
the act of collecting people, animals, or things together into one place.
n
a summary of the most important information about a particular subject.
Morpheme Breakdown
round
up
round
circular, surrounding
up
completive, intensive
Etymology
the word 'roundup' is a transparent compound formed from two native english elements. the first element, 'round,' derives from the old english 'rund' or 'gyrund,' related to the concept of a circle or circuit. the second element, 'up,' is a ubiquitous adverbial particle in english, often used to denote the completion of an action. the term originated in the mid-19th century american west, literally describing the action of cowboys riding around the range to gather and herd scattered cattle into one place. through metaphorical extension, this vivid image of a completed, comprehensive collection evolved to describe any systematic gathering of people or items, as well as a concise summary of news or information.
Analysis
Structure: round (circular, surrounding) + up (completive, intensive)
- round: from old english, germanic origin, meaning "circular, spherical." functions as the core semantic element, conveying the idea of gathering by moving around or encircling.
- up: from old english, germanic origin. functions as an adverbial particle that adds a sense of completion, finality, or intensification to the action.
Examples
the annual cattle roundup begins at dawn.
here is a quick roundup of today's financial news.
police conducted a roundup of suspected gang members in the city.