Word Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes and Combining Forms

a-, an-

a-, an-

absence or lack

ab-

departing from

acou-

hearing

ac-, acro-

extreme or extremity

ad-

to or toward

aden-, adeno-

gland

adren-

toward the kidney, adrenal gland

aero-

air

af-

toward

agon-

contest

alb-

white

aliment-

nourish

allel-

of one another

amphi-

of both kinds

ana-

apart, up, again

anastomos-

come together

aneurysm

a widening

angi-

vessel

angin-

choked

ant-, anti-

opposed to

ante-

preceding

aort-

great artery

ap-, api-

tip, extremity

append-

hang to

aqua-, aque-

water

arbor

tree

areola-

open space

arrect-

upright

arthr-, arthro-

pertaining to joints

artic-

joint, points of connection

atri-

vestibule, upper chambers of heart

auscult-

listen

aut-, auto-

self

ax-, axi-, axo-

axis, axle

azyg-

unpaired

baro-

pressure

basal

base

bi-

two

bili-

bile

bio-

life

blast-

bud or germ

brachi-

arm

brady-

slow

brev-

short

broncho-

bronchus, bronchial tube

bucco-

pertaining to the cheek and lip

calor-

heat, calories

capill-

hair

caput-

head

carcin-

cancer

cardi-, cardio-

heart

carneo-

flesh

carot-

orange pigment/stupor

cata-

down

caud-

tail

cec-

blind

cele-

abdominal

cephal-

head

cerebro-

brain

cervic-, cervix

neck

chiasm-

crossing

chole-

bile

chondr-

cartilage

chrom-

colored

cili-

small hair

circum-

around

clavic-

key

co-, con-

together

coccy-

cuckoo; coccyx, which is beak-shaped

cochlea

snail shell

coel-

hollow

commis-

united

concha

shell

contra-

against

corn-, cornu-

horn

corona

crown

corp-

body

cort-

bark, outer layer

cost-

rib

crani-

skull

crypt-

hidden

cusp-

pointed

cutic-

skin

cyan-

blue

cyst-

sac, bladder

cyt-

cell

de-

undoing, reversal, loss, removal

decid-

falling off

delta

triangular

den-, dent-

tooth

dendr-

tree, branch

derm-

skin

desm-

bond

di-

twice, double

dia-

through, between

dialys-

separate, break apart

diastol-

stand apart

diure-

urinate

dors-

the back

duc-, duct

lead, draw