Practice quiz 1

Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes

• Biological Terminology: This is a list of root words, suffixes, and prefixes, and their definitions and examples used to form or modify terms relating to biology.

Root Word Meanings and Examples

• -kin-: Motion. Example: cytokinesis.

• lac-: Milk. Example: lactose.

• leuco-, leuko-: White. Example: leukocyte.

• loc-, locus-: A place. Example: local.

• -logy: Study of. Example: biology.

• -lysis: Dissolving. Example: cytolysis.

• macro-: Large. Example: macronucleus.

• mal-: Bad. Example: malnutrition.

• medi-: Middle. Example: medial.

• mega-: Very large. Example: megaspore.

• meso-: Middle. Example: mesophyll.

• meta-: Beyond or after. Example: metamorphosis.

• meter-: Measure. Example: kilometer.

• micro-: Small. Example: microbe.

• mis-: Bad, wrong. Example: mislead.

• mito-: Thread. Example: mitosis.

• mono-: One. Example: monohybrid.

• morpho-: Shape, form. Example: morphology.

• multi-: Many. Example: multiple.

• muta-: Change. Example: mutation.

• myo-: Muscle. Example: myofibril.

• necro-: Dead. Example: necropsy.

• nema-: Thread. Example: nematocyst.

• nephr-: Kidney. Example: nephritis.

• neuro-: Nerve. Example: neurology.

• -oma: Tumor or swelling. Example: sarcoma.

• omni-: All. Example: omnivore.

• ophth-: Eye. Example: ophthalmology.

• orni-: Bird. Example: ornithology.

• ortho-: Straight. Example: orthodontist.

• -osis: Act, condition. Example: acidosis.

• osteo-: Bone. Example: osteoarthritis.

• oto-: Ear. Example: otology.

• ovi-, oo-: Egg. Example: oviduct, oocyte.

• para-: Beside. Example: parathyroid.

• patho-: Disease. Example: pathology.

• -ped- or -pod-: Foot. Example: millipede.

• peri-: Around. Example: pericardium.

• phago-: Eating. Example: phagocytosis.

• -phase: Stage, condition. Example: anaphase.

• pheno-: To show. Example: phenotype.

• phlebo-: Veins. Example: phlebotomy.

• -phob-: Fear. Example: arachnophobia.

• -photo-: Light. Example: photograph.

• -phyll: Leaf. Example: mesophyll.

• -phyto-: Plant. Example: saprophyte.

• pino-: To drink. Example: pinocytosis.

• plasma-: Form. Example: cytoplasm.

• -plast: Particle. Example: chloroplast.

• poly-: Many. Example: polysaccharide.

• post-: After, behind. Example: posterior.

• pre-, pro-: Before, primitive. Example: pretest.

• proto-: First. Example: protozoa.

• pseudo-: False. Example: pseudopod.

• -pter-: Wing. Example: diptera.

• pulmo-: Lung. Example: pulmonary.

• re-: Back, again. Example: repeat.

• renal-: Kidney. Example: adrenal glands.

• -rhea or -rrhea: Flow or discharge. Example: diarrhea.

• rhino-: Nose. Example: rhinoceros.

• -saccharide: Sugar. Example: polysaccharide.

• sal-: Salt. Example: saline.

• sapro-: Rotten. Example: saprophyte.

• -sclero-: Hard. Example: arteriosclerosis.

• semi-: Half. Example: semicircle.

• -soma-: Body. Example: chromosomes.

• -sphere: Ball or round. Example: atmosphere.

• sporo-: Spore. Example: sporophyte.

• -stasis: Equilibrium. Example: homeostasis.

• stom-: Mouth. Example: stomata.

• strat- (o): Layer. Example: stratosphere.

• sub-: Under, below. Example: subzero.

• supra-: Above. Example: supracervical.

• sym- or syn-: Binding together. Example: sympathy, synthesis.

• tetra-: Four. Example: tetrapod.

• -tegmen-: Cover. Example: integumentary.

• therm-: Heat. Example: thermometer.

• thromb-: Clot. Example: thrombosis.

• toxi-: Poison. Example: toxin.

• trans-: Across, over. Example: transverse.

• tri-: Three, third. Example: triploid.

• -troph-: Nourishment. Example: autotrophic.

• uni-: One. Example: unicellular.

• vaso-: Blood vessel, vessel. Example: vasodilator.

• vena-: Vein. Example: vena cava.

• viv-: Living. Example: viviparous.

• -vore-: To devour. Example: carnivore.

• xanthos-, xanth-: Yellow. Example: xanthoprotein.

• xero-: Dry. Example: xerophyte.

• xyl-, xylo-: Wood. Example: xylem.

• zo-, zoo-: Animal. Example: zoology.

• zyg-: United. Example: zygote.

Test your knowledge on biological terminology by exploring various roots, suffixes, and prefixes commonly used in the field. This quiz includes definitions and examples to help you understand how these terms relate to biology.