Scientific Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes Flashcards
a-; an-
not; without; lacking; deficient
ab-
away from; out from
-able
capable of
ac-
to; toward
-aceous
or of pertaining to
acou-; acous-
hear
ad-
to; toward
aden-
gland
adip-
fat
aero-
air
agri-
field; soil
-al
having the character of
alb-
white
alg-; -algia
pain
alto-
high
ambi-
both
ameb-
change; alternation
amni-
fetal membrane
amphi-; ampho-
both
amyl-
starch
ana-
up; back; again
andro-
man; masculine
anemo-
wind
ang-
choke; feel pain
angi-
blood vessel; duct
ante-
before; ahead of time
anter-
front
antho-
flower
anti-
against; opposite
antrhopo-
man; human
-ap-; -aph-
touch
apo-; ap-
away from
aqu-
water
archaeo-
primitive; ancient
-ary; -arium
denotes a place for something
arteri-
artery
arthr-
joint; articulation
-ase
forms names of enzymes
aster-; astr-
star
-ate
v. the act of…
ather-
fatty deposit
-ation
n. the act of…
atmo-
vapor
audi-
hear
aur-
ear
auto-
self
bacter-; bactr-
bacterium; stick; club
barb-
beard
baro-
weight
bath-
depth
bene-
well; good
bi- (Latin)
two
bi-; bio- (Greek)
life; living
-blast-
sprout; germ; bud
brachi-
arm
brachy-
short
brady-
slow
branchi-
fin
brev-
short
bronch-
windpipe
cac-
bad
calor-
heat
capill-
hair
capit-
head
carcin-
cancer
cardi-
heart
carn-
meat; flesh
carp-
fruit
carpal-
wrist
cata-
breakdown; downward
caud-
tail
-cell-
chamber, small room
cen-; -cene
now; recent
cente-
pierce
centi-
hundredth
centr-
center
cephal-
head
cerat-
horn
cerebr-
brain
cervic-
neck
chel-
claw
chem-
dealing with chemicals
chir-
hand
chlor-
green
chondr-
cartilage
chrom-; -chrome
color
chron-
time
-chym-
juice
-cid-; -cis-
cut; kill; fall
circa-; circum-
around; about
cirru-
hairlike curls
co-
with; together
cocc-
seed; berry
coel-
hollow
coll-
glue
coni-
cone
contra-
against
corp-
body
cort-; cortic-
outer layer
cosmo-
world; order; form
cotyl-
cup
counter-
against
crani-
skull
cresc-; cret-
begin to grow
crypt-
hidden; covered
-cul-; -cule
small; diminutive
cumul-
heaped
cuti-
skin
cyan-
blue
-cycle; cycl-
ring; circle
-cyst-
sac; pouch; bladder
cyt-; -cyte
cell; hollow container
dactyl-
finger
de-
away from; down
deca-
ten
deci
tenth
deliquesc-
become fluid
demi-
half
dendr-
tree
dent-
tooth
derm-
skin
di-; dipl- (Latin)
two; double
di-; dia- (Greek)
through; across; apart
dia- (Latin)
day
digit-
finger; toe
din-
terrible
dis-
apart; out
dorm-
sleep
dors-
back
du-; duo-
two
-duct
lead
dynam-
power
dys-
bad; adnormal; difficult
ec-
out of; away from
echin-
spiny; prickly
eco-
house
ecto-
outside of
-elle
small
-emia
blood
en-; endo-; ent-
in; into; within
-en
made of
encephal-
brain
enter-
intestine; gut
entom-
insects
-eous
nature of; like
epi-
upon; above; over
-err-
wander; go astray
erytho-
red
-escent
becoming
eso-
inward; within; inner
eu-
well; good; true; normal
eury-
widen
ex-
out of; away from
extra-
beyond; outside
-fer-
bear; carry; produce
ferro-
iron
fibr-
fiber; thread
-fid; fiss-
split; divided into
-flect; flex
bend
flor-
flower
flu-; fluct-; flux-
flow
foli-
leaf
fract-
break
-gam-
marriage
gastr-
stomach
geo-
land; earth
-gen; -gine
producer; former
-gene-
origin; birth
-gest-
carry; produce, bear
-glen-
eyeball
-glob-
ball; round
gloss-
tongue
gluc-; glyc-
sweet; sugar
glut-
buttock
gnath-
jaw
-gon
angle; corner
-grad-
step
-gram; -graph
record; writing
grav-
heavy
-gross-
thick