9th Grade Biology Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots

a-, an-

a-, an-

not, without

ex) abiotic, anaerobic, anemia

alt-, alto-

high, elevated

ex) altitude, alto saxophone

aero-

air, oxygen

ex) aerobic

anti-, ant-

opposite

ex) anti-inflammatory, antiseptic

anthro-

human

ex) anthropology

aq-, aqua-, hydro-

water

ex) aquatic, hydration

arthro-

joint, jointed

ex) arthritis

-ation

action

ex) vocalization, migration

auto-

self

ex) automatic, automobile

avi-, ave-, orno-

bird, related to flying

ex) aviation, aviary, ornithology

bacterio-, -bacter

related to bacteria

ex) bacteriological, campylobacter

bi-, di-

two, double

ex) bicycle, diurnal

bio-

life, living

ex) biology, biotic, biosphere

calor-

energy, especially because or from food

ex) calorie, caloric

carcin-

cancer

ex) carcinogenic (cancer causing)

cardi-

heart

ex) cardiac arrest, cardiovascular

centri-

center

ex) centralized, heliocentric

chemo-

relating to chemicals

ex) chemotherapy, chemistry, chemical

chron-

time

ex) chronological, chronicle

chloro-

green

ex) chlorophyll

-cide

kill, death

ex) homicide, herbicide

co-

with

ex) codominant, collaborate

con-, com-

together

ex) compress, converge, combine

cyto-, -cyte

cell, cellular

ex) cytoplasm, cytoskeleton

derm-

skin

ex) dermatology, epidermis

deut-, deutero

second, two

ex) deuterostome, deuterium

dis, dys, dif

apart, separate

ex) dismiss, different, disperse

dyna-

power

ex) dynamite, dynamic, dynamo

ect-, ecto-

outside

ex) ectomorph, ectoplasm

electro-

electricity, current

ex) electronic, electricity

endo-

in, into

ex) endoscope, endotoxin

epi-

above, on top

ex) epicenter, epidemic

equi-

equal

ex) equilibrium, equator

e-, ex-, exo-

out, away, out of

ex) emit, exhale, exit, expel

gastro-

stomach

ex) gastrointestinal

glyco-

sugar

ex) glycolysis

gen-, genesis, -genic

origin of

ex) carcinogenic, genetic, genes

-graph

write, illustrate

ex) graph, seismograph, photograph

heli-

spiral

ex) helicopter, helix

helio-

sun

ex) heliograph, helium, heliocentric

hema-, hemo-

blood

ex) hematologist, hematoma

hemi-, semi-

half, partial

ex) hemisphere, semicircle

herb-, phyto-

relating to plants

ex) herbicide, phytochemical

hetero-

different

ex) heterogynous, heterosexual, heterozygous

hyper-

over, exaggerated

ex) hypertonic, hyperventilate, hyperactive

hypo-

under, less then

ex) hypothermia, hypotonic, hypodermic

-ia

condition (especially long lasting)

ex) dyslexia, hypotonia, schizophrenia

inter-

between

ex) interphase, intercept

intra-

among or within

ex) intracellular

iso-, homo-

same

ex) isotonic, homozygous, homogeneous

-itis

inflammation, swelling

ex) bronchitis, arthritis

lys-, -lysis

split, separate

ex) cytosis, paralysis

macro-

large

ex) macroscopic

meta-

change, after

ex) metabolism, metastasis

-meter

measuring tool

ex) thermometer, meter, barometer

micro-

small

ex) microscope, micrometer

mono-, uni-

one, single

ex) monotheism, unicorn, unicellular, monomer

mort-

death

ex) mortal, mortician

morph-

form

ex) ectomorph, morphology

myco-

fungus

ex) mycology

nano-

extremely small

ex) nanoparticle, nanometer

neo-

new, young

ex) neolithic, neosphere

neuro-

relating to nerves or neurons

ex) neurons, neurosurgeon

-ology

the study of

ex) biology, cardiology, homology, oncology

-opt, -pter

wing

ex) helicopter

-ose

sugar

ex) glucose

ov-, ova

egg

ex) oviduct, ovation

ox-, oxy-

oxygen

ex) hypoxia, oxygen

paleo-, archae-

old

ex) paleontology, archaeology

-pathy

disease

ex) neuropathy, telepathy

-phage

eat, consume

ex) phagocyte, bacteriophage

phil-, -phile

like, love

ex) philanthropy, hydrophile

phobe

fear, afraid of

ex) claustrophobic, hydrophobic

-phoresis

to carry, or move across

ex) electrophoresis

photo-

sun, light

ex) photograph, photosynthesis

-plasm

gel

ex) cytoplasm

pneumo-

air, gas

ex) pneumonia

-pod

foot

ex) gastropod

poly-, multi-

many

ex) polymer, polygon, multiple

-port

move

ex) import, export, passport