Biology Abbreviations

ad-

to, toward

amyl-

starch

-ase

forms names of enzymes

bi- , di-

two, twice, double

cata-

breakdown, downward

co-

with, together

de-

away from, off

gluc- , glyc-

sweet sugar

hydr-

water

iso-

same, equal

-lyst, -lys, -lyt-

decompose, spilt, dissolve

macro-

large

-mer

part

mole-

mass

mono-

one, single

oxy-

sharp, acid, oxygen

poly-

many, several

-sacchar-

sugar

sub-

under, below

super-

over

a- , an-

without, not, lacking, deficient

-ation

Noun form: the act of …

bio-

life, living

centi-

hundredth

eco-

house

fract-

break

-gene-

origin, birth

homeo-

alike, similar

-ism

state or condition

kilo-

one thousand

-logist

one who studies

-logy

study of

meta-

change, change in

-meter

measurement

micro-

small, millionth

multi-

many

sci-

know

-scop-

look, device for seeing

-spher-

ball, round

-stasis

standing, placed, staying

ana-

up, back, again

cycl-

ring, center

centr-

center

deca-, deka-

ten

deci-

tenth

gig-

billion

hecto-

one hundred

hepta-

seven

hexa-

six

inter-

between

intra-

within, inside

kine-

move

med-

middle

meg-

million, great

milli-

thousandth

nona-

nine

octa-

eight

penta-

five

-phase

to show, to make appear

telo-

end

alb-

white

carcin-

cancer

di-, dipl-

two, double

-eous

like, nature of

extra-

beyond, outside

-gam-

marriage

hapl-

simple

homo-, homos-

same, alike

ign-

fire

in-

not

-less

without

mei-

to lessen, diminish

mes-

middle, half, intermediate

noct-, noc-

night

-oid

form, appearance

oo-

egg

pheno-

show

semi-

half

tetr-

four

-zyg-

joined together

ambi-

both

anti-

against, opposite

bacter-

bacterium, stick club

hist-

tissue

mut-

change

onc-

mass tumor

-osis

abnormal condition

ov-

egg

-ped-

child

peri-

around

post-

after, behind

pseudo-

false, deceptive

schis-, schiz

split, divide

-scribe

script, write

-sis-

condition, state

-sperm-

seed

-tom-

cut, slice

tachy-

quick, swift

-ura

tail

vit-,viv-

life