It's Greek To Me!

Greek and Latin Prefixes, Roots and Suffixes used in English
This page © 1999 by Nicholas E. Miller


Basic term

Meaning

Greek
Latin
Prefix
Suffix

hetero

other, different

Yes
Yes, later
Yes
.

Examples

Definition

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heteroatom (4)

(noun) - other + indivisible = a non-carbon atom in the ring of a heterocyclic compound.

heteroauxin (5)

(noun) - different + grow = indoleacetic acid, a naturally occurring, crystalline, plant growth hormone, C10H9NO2, which affects the growth and rooting of plants.

heteroclite (5)

(noun) - different + -clite = an irregularly inflected word, especially a noun; someone or something which deviates from common rules or forms.

heterocyclic (5)

(adj.) - different + circle = relating to or in a ring made up of atoms of more than one kind. Heterocycle and heterocyclic are noun forms.

heterocyst (5)

(noun) - different + bladder = a large, clear thick-walled cell found in some blue-green algae and is the site of nitrogen fixation. Heterocystous is the adjective form.

heterodox (4)

(adj.) - different + opinion = unorthodox, unconventional , being or having unorthodox opinions or beliefs, especially religious.

heteroduplex (5)

(noun) - different + double = a two-chained, nucleic-acid molecule derived from two different parent molecules. Heteroduplex is the adjective form.

heterodyne (3)

(verb) - different + power = to combine two radio frequencies to produce an electrical beat. Sometimes used to refer to optical frequencies, too. Can also be an adjective relating to such a process.

heteroecious (5)

(adj.) - different + house = living different stages of the life cycle on different and often unrelated hosts. Heteroecism is the noun form.

heterogamete (5)

(noun) - different + husband = either of a pair of different reproductive cells which usually occur as a large non-mobile egg and a small mobile sperm.

heterogamy (4)

(noun) - different + marriage = sexual reproduction by the joining of two dissimilar gametes of different size, structure, and physiology or the condition of such reproduction.

heterogeneous (2)

(adj.) - different + kind, race = mixed, containing dissimilar or different ingredients or elements. Heterogeneously is the adverb form and heterogeneousness is the noun form. Occasionally spelled heterogenous.

heterograft (4)

(noun) - different + write = a piece of tissue taken from a source in one species and grafted onto a recipient of another species; sometimes called xenograft.

heterolysis (5)

(noun) - different + loosening = the state of a compound decomposing into two oppositely charged particles or ions. Heterolytic is the adjective form.

heteromorphic (5)

(adj.) - different + shape = having a different shape or form; unusual. Heteromorphism is the noun form.

heteronomy (5)

(noun) - different + law = subject to someone else; a lack of freedom or self-determination.

heteronym (3)

(noun) - different + name = one of two or more homographs which differ in pronunciation and meaning, such as bow (bou) - the front of a ship and bow (boh) - a knotted ribbon.

heterophile or heterophil (5)

(adj.) - different + love = a group of antigens in organisms of different species which cause the formation of antibodies which will cross-react with other antigens in the group.

heterophony (5)

(noun) - different + sound = a variation on a single melody by two or more voices.

heterophyllous (5)

(adj.) - different + leaf = having leaves of more than one shape on the same plant or stem. Heterophylly is the noun form.

hetero (2)

(noun) - from the word = slang or short form for heterosexual. Hetero is also an adjective form and heteros is the plural.

heterosexual (2)

(adj.) - different + sex = relating to or characterized by having sex with, or showing a tendency to direct sexual desire toward, the opposite sex (that is, normal reproductive sexual behavior or its precursors); relating to different sexes. Heterosexuality is the noun and heterosexually is the adverb form.

heterosexual (2)

(noun) - different + sex = a heterosexual person.

heterosis (5)

(noun) - different + process, abnormal condition = the enhanced capacity for growth exhibited by some crossbred animals or plants. Heterotic is the adjective form.

heterospory (5)

(noun) - different + seed = producing microspores and megaspores, such as in seed-bearing plants and some ferns. Heterosporous is the adjective form.

heterothallic (5)

(adj.) - different + thallic = having male reproductive organs in one being and female in another, having staminate and pistillate flowers borne on different plants. Heterothallism is the noun form.

heterotopic (5)

(adj.) - different + place = happening or occurring in an abnormal place.

heterotrophic (5)

(adj.) - different + growth, nutrition = needing carbon and nitrogen based complex organic compounds for metabolic synthesis. Heterotrophically is the adverb form and heterotroph and heterotrophy are noun forms.

heterotypic (5)

(adj.) - different + tupikos = different in kind, style, order or form.