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etymology
bio terminology and root words
Term | Definition |
---|---|
a-, an- | without, lacking |
adip- | fat |
alb- | white |
alve- | channel, cavity |
ase- | enzyme |
auto- | self |
bacterio- | bacteria |
bio- | life |
blast-, blasto- | embryonic or cell layer |
calor- | heat |
capill- | hair |
cav- | hollow |
centr- | center |
chem- | dealing with chemicals |
chloro- | green |
chrom- | colored |
cleav- | to divide |
ctyo(e)- | cell |
di- | double, two |
diplo- | double, twofold |
elle- | small |
end- | in, inside |
endo- | within, internal |
eu- | true |
ex- | out of, away from |
exo- | outer, external |
flagell- | whip |
-gamy | sexual function |
gen- | origin, development |
gene- | origin, birth |
gluc- | sweet, sugar |
glyc- | sweet |
hemi- | half |
hetero- | different, other |
homo-, homeo- | same, similar, like |
-hydrate | water |
hydro- | water |
hyper- | above, excessive |
hypo- | below, insufficient |
inter- | between |
intra- | within, inside |
iso- | equal |
-logy | study of |
-lysis, -lytic | dissolving, splitting |
macro- | large |
meso- | middle |
micro- | small |
mito- | thread |
mono- | one |
multi- | many |
oxy- | oxygen |
phag- | eat |
-phase | a stage or condition |
-phil- | affinity, preference, loving |
-phob- | fear |
photo- | light |
-phyll | leaf |
-phyte | plant |
pino- | drink |
poly- | many |
sacchar- | sugar |
script- | to write |
-stasis, -stat | remain the same |
toxi- | poisin |
trans- | across |
tri- | three |
anti- | against, opposed to |
con- | with, together |
deuter- | second |
ia- | disease |
karyo- | nucleus of cell |
leuco- | white |
lip- | fat |
mal- | bad |
mega- | very large |
-morph | form, structure |
mut- | change |
neuro- | nerve |
oma- | tumor |
oo- | pertaining to an egg |
ovo-,ovi- | pertaining to an egg |
quadr- | four |
soma-,somat- | body |
-some | body |
sperma- | seed |
-stome | opening, mouth |
sym-,syn- | together, with |
tetra- | four |
uni- | consisting of one |
zyg- | unite |
anthropo- | human |
arche- | ancient, primitive |
caud- | tail |
cell- | center |
cephal- | head |
chondri- | cartilage |
clado- | branch, root of a tree |
coel- | hollow |
cortic- | bark |
dendr- | tree |
echino- | spiny |
eco- | household |
ecto- | outside |
eso- | inward, within |
extra- | beyond, outside |
gam- | before |
-genesis | origination of |
geo- | earth |
gymno- | naked |
haplo- | single |
herb- | pertaining to plants |
ic- | pertaining to |
ichthy- | fish |
nucle- | kernel |
-ous | full of |
-ped, -pod | foot |
peri- | around |
permea- | pass, go |
platy- | flat |
-pod | foot |
post- | after |
pre- | before |
pseudo- | fake |
rhiz- | rootlike |
sect- | to cut |
solv- | loosen, free |
terr- | earth, land |
tymphan- | drum |
zoo- | animal |
ampi-, ambi- | both |
arche- | ancient, primitive |
arth- | joint |
aud- | hearing |
bicep- | two heads |
bil- | bile |
bronch- | windpipe |
cardi- | heart |
caud- | tail |
cerebr- | brain |
cervic- | neck |
crani- | skull |
cut- | skin |
cyst- | bladder, capsule |
decid- | to cut off |
digit- | finger |
dors- | back |
epi- | upon, above |
gastr- | stomach |
glut- | buttocks |
gnarth- | jaw |
-helminth | worm |
heme-, hemo- | blood |
hepat- | liver |
herb- | pertaining to plants |
histo- | tissue |
inflamm- | to set on fire |
lact- | milk |
lat- | side |
lingu- | tongue |
mamm- | breast |
mandib- | jaw |
my- | muscle |
nephr- | kidney |
oligo- | few; little |
osteo- | bone |
oto- | ear |
-ous | full of |
para- | beside |
peri- | around |
proto- | first |
re- | back, again |
-renal | kidney |
seb- | grease, oil |
sect- | to cut |
tel- | end, distant |
troph- | nutrue |
tymphan- | drum |
ur- | urine |
vill- | hair |
append- | to attach, hang aqua-water |
ation- | the act of |
atri- | entrance |
ax- | axis |
burs- | bag |
carn- | meat |
carn- | flesh |
carpus- | wrist |
chym- | liquid |
-cusp- | point, apex |
de- | removal of, off |
derm- | skin, covering |
dis- | apart, away from |
erythro- | red |
fer- | bearer |
fibr- | fiber, thread |
follic- | small bag |
gangli- | swelling |
grav- | heavy |
gyn- | female |
iac- | pertaining to |
immun- | free, exempt |
insul- | island |
-itis | inflammation or infection |
itchy- | fish |
kerat- | horn |
kin- | motion |
med- | middle |
mer- | part |
meta- | after, beyond, change |
nema- | thread |
nom- | name |
omni- | all |
-osis | abnormal condition |
path- | disease |
phen- | show, be seen |
-phore | a bearer |
-plasm | formative substance, gel |
-plast | organized particle |
por- | passage |
pro- | before, favoring |
pulmo- | lung |
radi- | ray |
sclero- | hard |
scope- | tube |
sin- | hollow |
sporo- | spore |
stria- | grooved |
sub- | under |
supra-. super- | above, over |
tax- | arrangement of |
therm- | heat |
thesis- | placing or putting |
trop- | turn, react |
vas- | vessel |
viv- | live |
-vor | feeding, nourishment |