Greek and Latin Root Words
Biology Greek and Latin Root Words
Biology is a “science of words.” Unlike other branches of scientific study such as physics and chemistry, which rely heavily on mathematical formulas and calculations, most biological concepts are explained through words. Words are also used to describe your observations, to make your inferences, and explain your conclusions.
In biology, you will encounter many words that will be new to you. Most of them are based on ancient Greek and Latin languages. Many are used only when talking about biology. In this class, you will be more comfortable, and more successful, if you learn some of these words and use them as much as possible in class discussions and in your writing.
Listed below are some of the more common biology root words.
Please learn each root word and its definition. If you learn the examples and their meanings, you might find it helpful.
Root Word Examples
A
a, an – without acellular, asexual, anaerobic
ab – away from abdomen, abduct
ad – towards adduction, adhesion
aero – air aerobic, aerodynamic
alb – white albino, albumen
amnio – fetus amnion, amniocentesis
amoeb – change amoeba
amphi – both amphibian
andr – male androsterone, androgeny
anis – unequal anisodactyl, anisogamy
antho – flower anther, anthocyanin
anthro – human anthropogenic
anti - against, opposite antibiotic, antibody
archae – ancient archeology, Archaeopteryx
arcto – north Arctic, Antarctic
arthro – joint arthropod, arthritis
aur – ear aural, auditory
auto – self autotroph, automobile
avi – bird avian
B
bi – two bipedal, binomial, binocular
bio – life biology, biodiversity, biosphere
blast – germ, bud blastula, erthyroblast
brachi- arm brachiopod, brachiosaurus
brachy- short brachytherapy, brachytdactyl
brady- slow bradycardia
C
cani- dog canine, Canidae
capill- hair capillary
card- heart cardiac, cardiopulmonary
cauda- tail caudal
cav- hollow cave, cavity, vena cava
centi- hundred centimeter, centipede
centri – center centromere, centriole
cephal- head cephalothorax
cerebro- brain cerebrum, cerebellum
cerv- neck cervical
chemi – chemical chemosynthesis, chemotherapy
chlor- green chlorophyll, chloroplast
chrom- color chromosome
chrys- golden chrysalis
cide – kill herbicide, homicide, suicide
circum- around circumduction, circumnavigate
co- together codominance, coevolution, cooperate
corp- body corpse, corpus
crani – skull cranium
cycl- circular cycle, unicycle
cyt- cell cytokinesis, cytoplasm, leucocyte
D
dactyl- finger, toes Pterodactyl, anisodactyl, zygodactyl
deci- ten decimeter, decade
de- away from deciduous, decomposer
dendr- tree dendrology, dendrite
dent- tooth dental, dentist
derm- skin epidermis, dermatologist
di- two dihedral, dissect
dia- through diameter, diaphragm
dino- terrible dinosaur, dinoflagellate
diplo- double diploid, diplocephalus
dont- tooth orthodontist, mastodon
dors- back dorsal
duct – to carry abduct, oviduct
dur- hard durable, endure
E
echino- spiny echinoderm
eco- house ecology, ecosystem
ecto- outside ectoderm, ectotherm
endo- inside endocrine, endotherm
epi- upon epidermis, epiphyte
equi- horse, equal equine, equilateral
erythr- red erythrocyte
eu- true, genuine eukaryote, Eubacteria
ev- change evolution, evaporation
exo, extra- outside exocytosis, exoskeleton, extracellular
F
facil- easy facilitator, facilitated diffusion
feli- cat feline, Felidae
fer- carry transfer, conifer
fil – thread filament
flagell – whip flagellum
fol- leaf foliage, follicle
fru – fruit fructose, fruiticose
G
gam-sexual gamete
gastro- stomach gastrointestinal, gastric
gen- source, origin gene, genus, Genesis
glu – sweet glucose, glycolysis
H
hemo- blood hemoglobin, hematology
haplo- single, simple haploid
hepa- liver hepatic
herb – plant herbivore, herbicide
hetero- different heterosexual, heterozygous
homi – man hominid, hominoid
homo- same homosexual, homozygous, homeostasis
hormon- that which excites hormone
hydr- water hydrate, hydrant
hyper- above hyperactive
hypo- beneath hypodermic
I
ichthy- fish ichthyology, Ichthyosaurus
incis- cut into incision, incisor
infra- under infrared
inter- between interspecific, interstate
intra- within intravenous
iso- equal isothermal, isodactyl
K
kilo- thousand kilogram
L
leo- lion leonine, leopard
leuc- white leucocyte, leucoplast
lip- fat lipid, liposuction
logy – study of biology, zoology
lupi – wolf lupine
M
macr- large macroevolution, macronucleus
mamma- breast mammal, mammary gland
melan- dark melanin, melatonin
mer- part isomer, polymer
meso- middle mesoderm, mesothelioma
meta- following, change metaphase, metamorphosis
micro- small microscope, micobiology
mito- thread mitosis, mitochondria
mono- one monomer, monosaccharide
morph- form morphology, metamorphosis
multi- many multicellular
myco- mushroom mycology
myo- muscle, mouse myoglobin, myocardium
myx- slime myxameba, myxomycete
N
neur – nerve neuron, neurotransmitter
O
omni – all omnivore
ortho – straight orthodontist, orthopedic
osteo – bone osteopath
ova-, ovi- egg ovary, oviduct
P
par – near parasite
path – disease pathogen
ped, pod – foot pedal, biped, quadruped, tripod
photo – light photosynthesis, phototropism
phyll – leaf chlorophyll, leucophyll
plast – particle chloroplast, leucoplast
poly - many polymer, polysaccharide
post – after postnatal
pre- before prenatal
prim- first primate, primary
pro, proto – first Protozoa, prokaryote, prophase
psuedo- false pseudopod
ptera-, ptero – wing Pterodactyl, Chiroptera
Q
quad – four quadruped
S
soma, some – body chromosome, lysosome
sperma – seed sperm, spermatazoa
stasis – position homeostasis, metastasis
syn – together photosynthesis, chemosynthesis
T
therm- heat endothermic, exothermic
thesis – arrangement photosynthesis, hypothesis
tropho- nourishment autotroph, heterotroph
tropic- turning phototropism
U
uni – one unicellular
V
ventr – belly ventral
vora, vore – feeding herbivore, omnivore
Z
zoa, zoo – animal zoology, Protozoa
zyg – join together zygote, heterozygous
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related searches
- greek and latin root words
- greek and latin root games
- greek and latin roots printable
- greek and latin roots powerpoint
- latin root words worksheet
- greek latin root words worksheet
- greek and latin word games
- greek and latin worksheets
- latin root words list pdf
- greek and latin roots worksheets
- greek and latin roots list
- greek and latin root affixes