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

cryo

icy cold

Yes
.
Yes
.

Examples

Definition

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cryobiology (4)

(noun) - icy, cold + life + speak = the study of the effects of low temperature on biological systems. Cryobiological is the adjective form and cryobiologist is the noun for a person who does this.

cryogen (4)

(noun) - icy, cold + born, producing = a substance for producing low temperatures; a refrigerant.

cryogenics (4)

(noun, takes a singular verb) - icy, cold + born, producing = a branch of physics dealing with the production and effects of very low temperatures.

cryolite (5)

(noun) - icy, cold (frost) + stone = a soft, white, gray or tinted white mineral consisting of Na3 AlF6 found in Western Greenland and used as a source of aluminum.

cryonics (3)

(noun, takes a singular verb) - cold + (o)nics = freezing a dead person in hopes of restoring life at some time in the future when a cure for the disease or problem has been developed. Cryonic is the adjective form.

cryophilic (5)

(adj.) - cold + love = doing well at, or liking, low temperatures.

cryopreservation (3)

(noun) - cold + preserve = to preserve by subjecting to extremely low temperatures. Cryopreserve is the verb form.

cryoprobe (5)

(noun) - cold + test = a cold instrument used to freeze human tissue in cryosurgery.

cryoprotective (5)

(adj.) - cold + protect = to protect from freezing. Cryoprotectant can be either the noun or adjective form.

cryoscope (5)

(noun) - cold + see = a device for measuring the freezing points of substances.

cryoscopy (5)

(noun) - cold + see = the measurement of different freezing points of a liquid by dissolving substances in them to determine the molecular weights and other properties of the solutions. Cryoscopic is the adjective form.

cryostat (4)

(noun) - cold + one that causes to stand = a device for maintaining a constant low temperature usually below 0ƒC or 32ƒF. Cryostatic is the adjective form.

cryosurgery (3)

(noun) - cold + hand + work = a type which freezes the part of the body to be treated or operated on, using something like liquid nitrogen. Cryosurgeon is the noun form for a person who does this and cryosurgical is the adjective form.

cryotherapy (5)

(noun) - cold + treat medically = the medical use of cold to treat illnesses or injuries.