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punctuation

Pronunciation: /pʌŋ(k)tʃʊˈeɪʃ(ə)n, -tjʊ-/

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Definition of punctuation

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the marks, such as full stop, comma, and brackets, used in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning: you will notice that no punctuation is used satisfactory standards of handwriting, spelling, grammar, and punctuation
  • 2 Biology rapid or sudden speciation, as suggested by the theory of punctuated equilibrium.

Derivatives

punctuational

adjective

Origin:

mid 17th century: from medieval Latin punctuatio(n-), from the verb punctuare (see punctuate)

punctuation in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of punctuation in the US English dictionary

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