Science Vocabulary
Using word parts to facilitate meaning
Derivation of Many Science Terms

From two ancient languages
Greek
 Latin


A list of these is inside the front cover of the
Martini text
Did you know that many science
terms are “built” from word parts?
Derivation from Greek Word Parts
 Did
you know?
 Biology
 Bio = life
 Logy = the study of
 Biology = the study of life
Derivation from Latin Word Parts
 Bilingual
 Bi-
= two
 Lingu/o = tongue, language
 -al = pertaining to
 Bilingual = pertaining to two languages
A Medical Example

Hypodermic
A Medical Example That Uses
the Three Main Word Parts

The term “hypodermic” is made up of three
word parts
Word Roots
 The
foundations of terms
 Hypodermic: “derm” is a word root meaning
skin
 Sometimes you will see these presented with a
vowel at the end (derm/o). These are called
“combining forms”.
Prefixes
 Word
parts appearing at the beginning of
a term that modify its meaning
 Hypodermic: “hypo” is a prefix
meaning under or below
Suffixes
 Word
parts appearing at the end of a
term to modify the meaning
 Hypodermic: “ic” is a suffix
meaning pertaining to (an adjective
ending)
Putting Them All Together
 Using
your knowledge of the meanings
of the three word parts, the term
“hypodermic” means pertaining to
under or below the skin
 A hypodermic needle injects a
substance underneath the skin.
Chemistry Terms

Endothermic
Endo Therm/
 -ic
 Definition:

a prefix meaning within
a word root meaning heat
a suffix meaning pertaining to
pertaining to (taking) heat in
A Contrasting Chemistry Term

Exothermic
Exo Therm/
 -ic
 Definition:

a prefix meaning out, outside
a word root meaning heat
a suffix meaning pertaining to
pertaining to (sending) heat out
Another Pair of Chemistry Terms

Homogeneous
Homoa prefix meaning same, similar
 Gene/
a word root meaning kind or type
 -ous
a suffix meaning pertaining to
 A homogeneous solution is made of similar types (of
substances)

Another Pair of Chemistry Terms,
continued

Heterogeneous
Heteroa prefix meaning different
 Gene/
a word root meaning kind or type
 -ous
a suffix meaning pertaining to
 A heterogeneous solution is made of different types
(of substances)

A Closer Look at Prefixes

Ren/o means kidney

Prefixes
Peri- around, surrounding
 Supra- above
 Infra- below

How Prefixes Change a Term
 Perirenal
pertaining to surrounding a
kidney
 Suprarenal pertaining to above a kidney
 Intrarenal
pertaining to within a kidney
A Closer Look at Suffixes
 Cephal/o
= head
 Suffixes
 -ic
 -ad
 -algia
pertaining to
towards
pain
How Suffixes Change a Term
 Cephalic
= pertaining to the head
 Cephalad = towards the head
 Cephalalgia = pain in the head, or a
headache
What else do you need to know?
How the order of word roots can
change the meaning of a term.





Anter/o
Poster/o
-ior
front
back
noun ending
Anterior
Posterior
the front of the body
the back of the body
How order of word roots can change
the meaning, continued


Anteroposterior
Posterioanterior
from the front to the back
from the back to the front
Awareness of Terms Built from Word
Parts



Start your own list of prefixes, suffixes, and
word roots for science terms.
Check your dictionary or glossary to confirm
meaning.
Begin to reap the rewards of being a more
efficient and effective reader with your increased
knowledge of scientific terms built from word
parts.
Questions?

Feel free to email Betsy Shiland, HIT
Department at bshiland@ccp.edu