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

hexa

six

Yes
.
Yes
.

Examples

Definition

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benzene hexachloride (5)

(noun) - benzene + six + green + ide = chlorine by-products C6H6Cl6 of cyclohexane where the chlorine atoms are attached to different carbon atoms.

cyclohexane (5)

(noun) - circle + six + ane = a hydrocarbon C6H12 found in petroleum or made synthetically and used as a solvent and in organic synthesis.

cyclohexanone (5)

(noun) - circle + six + anone = a liquid ketone C6H10O used as a solvent and in organic synthesis.

hexachloroethane or hexachlorethane (5)

(noun) - six + green + ethane = a poisonous crystalline compound C2Cl6 used in controlling of liver flukes in hoofed mammals and in making smoke bombs.

hexachlorophene (4)

(noun) - six + green- + phenol = a powdered phenolic bacteria-inhibiting agent C13Cl6H6O2.

hexachord (4)

(noun) - six + agreement = a series of six tones based on the eight tone scale having a half-tone between the third and fourth tones.

hexadecimal (2)

(adj.) - six + ten = relating to, or the number system with a base of 16. Its numbers are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F, 10. Hexadecimal is also the noun form.

hexagon (3)

(noun) - six + angle = a polygon with six angles and six sides.

hexagram (3)

(noun) - six + letter = a 6-pointed star, with two intersecting similar equilateral triangles having the center point parallel sides.

hexahedron (3)

(noun) - six + face = a polyhedron of six faces such as a cube. Plural forms can be hexahedrons or hexahedra.

hexahydrate (5)

(noun) - six + water = a chemical compound with six molecules of water.

hexameter (3)

(noun) - six + measures = a line of verse with six metrical feet.

hexamethonium (5)

(noun) - six + meth- + -onium = one of two compounds C12H30Br2N2 or C12H30C12N2 used as a ganglionic blocking agent in treating hypertension.

hexamethylenetetramine (5)

(noun) - hexa- + methylene + tetra- + amine = a crystalline compound C6H12N4 used to speed up the vulcanizing of rubber and as a urinary antiseptic.

hexane (5)

(noun) - six + ane = one of several isomeric volatile liquid alkanes C6H14, found in petroleum.

hexanoic acid (5)

(noun) - hexane + -oic = caproic acid, C6H12O2, found as a glycerol ester in fats and oils or made synthetically and used in drugs and flavorings.

hexapod (5)

(noun, adj.) - six + feet = insects or related to insects; having six feet.

uranium hexafluoride (5)

(noun) - Uranus + six + flux + ide = a quickly evaporating compound of uranium and fluorine, UF6, that is used in a major process of enriching uranium 235.