Microbiology Cumulative Root Words With Meanings
One of the crucial underpinnings of any discipline is its nomenclature. We have become convinced over the years that mastery of nomenclature is facilitated immeasurably by knowledge of the etymology of the nomenclature. Thus, we emphasize the derivation of the terms used in a discipline we are teaching as a tool to learn its nomenclature. What follows is a list of some of the crucial word stems used in microbiology along with their meanings.
In my courses, being able to translate these word stems to their root meanings is one of the major features of evidence of mastery of the material. Thus, on every test and quiz, there will be word stems which you are to “translate” into the root meanings. We believe that this knowledge of etymology will not only benefit the learning of this particular discipline, but also serve as a tool for life, allowing at least basic understanding of the meaning of new words never encountered before by identifying and understanding the word stems from which the word is derived.
KEY to topic abbreviations:
Abc antibiotics
Ana prokaryotic anatomy
Dis diseases
Enz enzymes
Epi epidemiology
Flg flagella
Fng fungus
Grm germ theory
Gth bacterial growth
His history of microbiology
Imn immunity
Mtb metabolism
Plt plate count
Pst parasites
Pth pathogenicity
Scp microscope
Str sterile technique
Vir viruses
Abc antibiotics
Ana prokaryotic anatomy
Dis diseases
Enz enzymes
Epi epidemiology
Flg flagella
Fng fungus
Grm germ theory
Gth bacterial growth
His history of microbiology
Imn immunity
Mtb metabolism
Plt plate count
Pst parasites
Pth pathogenicity
Scp microscope
Str sterile technique
Vir viruses
Please let me know if any of these word stem meanings are in error. I acknowledge that with this volume of word stems, there are almost certainly an occasional error or two.
word root topic meaning
acet- Grm vinegar
achromatic Scp without color
acid Mtb sour, sharp
actin- Fng radiate
aden- Mtb gland
aero- His air, oxygen
Ag Enz silver
agglutin Vir together stick
AIDS Vir Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
alb- Mtb white
-algia Dis pain
aliquot Plt measured subunit
allo- Enz other
amphi- Flg both
an- His without
ana- Mtb upward
anthrax Grm burning coal
anti- Grm against
apo- Enz detach
arbo- Vir arthropod-borne
aria His air
arthro- Dis joint
asco- Fng sack
-ase Grm enzyme
ATP Mtb adenosine triphosphate
attenuate Grm toward thinness
aureus Dis gold
auto- Str self
axillary Dis armpit
bacillus His rod little
bacter- His rod
basidio- Fng little base, pedestal
bio- His life
blast- Abc immature, bud
-bol- Mtb throw
buccal Ana cheek
campylo- Dis curved
capitis Fng of the head
cata- Mtb downward
cephalo- Vir head
CFU Plt colony forming unit
chemo- Flg transmutation
chlamyd- Dis mantle, cloak
chol- Grm bile
-cide Mtb kill
cis- Gen cut
clappoir Dis brothel
-clave Str break
coccus His grain
coli Dis of the large intestine
coll- Pth glue
con- Flg together
conidia Fng dust
corona Vir crown
CPE Pth cytopathic effects
-crates His power
cruris Fng of the groin
-cule His diminutive
cuvette Gth cup little
cyst- Abc bladder
-cyte Ana cell
de- Mtb remove from
demos Grm people
dermato- Fng skin
dessicate Gth remove moisture
dextro- His right
di- Mtb two
dia- Scp through, across
dino- Pst whirlpool
diplo- Ana double
dis- His reverse, undo
-drome Epi run
dys- Grm faulty
ECHO Vir enteric cytopathogenic human orphan
edema Dis swelling
-egar His sour
-egre Mtb sour
-ella Flg diminutive
EMB Gth Eosin Methylene Blue
-emia Grm blood
en- Enz inside
endo- Ana inner
enter- Grm intestines
enzyme Mtb inside yeast
epi- Grm upon
EPS Ana Extracellular Polymeric Substance
erythro- Fng red
esthet- Grm feeling
etio- His cause
EtOH Str ethyl alcohol
eu- Dis true, well
ex- Gen from
extra- Ana outside
FAD Mtb flavin adenine dinucleotide
fil- Fng hair
flag- Flg beat, whip
flora His plants
flu Pst flow
fract- Scp break
fructo- Mtb fruit
fusion Scp melt, pour
galact- Mtb milk
-genic His produce
GI Dis gastrointestinal
glob- Imn ball
glut- Imn stick, adhere
glyc- Ana sugar
-gnomic Vir know
gono- Gen offspring, genitals
-gram Ana picture
GU Dis genitourinary
H+ Str acid
hal- Grm salt
hapt- Imn attach
HCG Imn human chorionic gonadotropin
hemo- Fng blood
Hemophilus Dis blood loves
hepat- Abc liver
herpes Vir creep, crawl
hex- Mtb six
HFR Gen high frequency recombinant
Hg Grm mercury
hippo- His horse
histo- Ana tissueor story
HIV Vir human immunodeficiency virus
holo- Enz entire
homeo- Pth same
HTST Grm High Temperature Short Time
humor His bodily fluid
hydro- Str water
hygro- Str moisture
hypha Fng thread
iatro- His doctor
idio- His unknown
in vitro Grm in glass
in vivo Grm in life
in- Ana within
-ine Mtb nitrogen containing
inguinal Dis groin
inter- Scp between
intra- Dis within
iris Scp rainbow
iso- Mtb same
-itis Grm inflamation
juga- Flg join
karyo- Ana nucleus
kerat- Epi horn
-kine Imn activate, move
lact- Gth milk
lactis Plt milk
LD50 Pth lethal dose 50%
lepto- Dis weak, fine
leuk- Gen white
levo- His left
lig- Ana tie
lip- Ana fat
-logy His science, study, word
lopho- Ana tuft
LPS Ana lipopolysaccharide
lys- Gth break, loosen
lysis Enz break, process
macro- Grm large
mal- His bad
mastigo- Pst whip
media Dis medium
megaly Pth large
melan- His black
meninx Dis membrane
meniscus Plt moonlittle
-mer Mtb unit
meta- Mtb change, behind, later, beyond
miasma His foul odor
micro- His tiny,1/1,000,000
milli- Scp 1/1000
MMWR Epi Mortality Morbidity Weekly Report
mnem- Vir memory
-monas Dis simple organism
mono- Ana single
morbidity Epi sickness
morph- His change
mort- His death
muco- Ana slime
mumps Vir grimace
mur- Ana mouse
muta- Gen change
my- Dis muscle
myco- Grm fungus
myxo- Vir slime
NAD Mtb nicotine adenine dinucleotide
nadir His lowest point
NAG Ana N acetylglucoseamine
NAM Grm N acetylmuramic acid
nano- Scp nine
necro- Fng dead
-nema Ana thread
nephri- Dis kidney
NGU Dis non-gonococcal urethritis
nigri- Fng black
noc- Ana poison
-nomy Dis rule
nosocomial His one who cares for the sick, work [hospital acquired]
nox- Ana poison
ocul- Scp eye
-oid Flg like
-ol Gth alcohol
omnis His all
ornitho- Dis bird
ortho- Vir straight
-ose Mtb sugar
oto- Dis ear
pallid Flg faint
para- Vir alongside
parenteral Pth alongside intestine
pathos His suffer, disease
pedis Fng of the foot
penta- Flg five
peps- Grm digest
per- Pth throughout
peri- Ana around
phago- Grm eat
pharynx Dis throat
-philic Str like
phlegm His watery
-phobic Str fear, hate
-phore Pst to bear
-phragm Scp membrane
-phtheria Fng membrane
-phylaxis Imn protect
-phytic Fng plant
pico- Scp tiny
pilus Ana hair
placebo Epi I will please
plast- Ana form, shape
pleio Ana many
pneumo- Dis air
poie- Abc to form
poly- Ana many
portal Epi gateway
pox Grm mark, scar
PPNG Dis penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhea
pro- Ana first
pruritis Dis itch inflamation
pseudo- Dis false
psittaci Dis parrot
psychro- Mtb cold
ptom- Fng fall
puerperal His childbed
purul- Dis pusy
-pus Fng foot
putri- His rotten
pyo- Grm pus
pyogenes Grm pus producing
pyr- Mtb fire
q.s. Str quantum sufficit
retro- Vir backward
rhabdo- Vir stick, rod
rheo- Scp flow
rheum- Fng watery
rhino- Vir nose
rhizo- Dis root
RTF Gen resistance transfer factor
Rubella Vir red little
rxn Ana reaction
sacchar- Ana sugar
sangui- Grm blood
sapro- Fng rotten
sarco- Pst flesh
schiz- Pst split
scope His examine
-scopic Str examine
-script Gen write
septic His rotten
septum Gen partition
serum Imn whey
spect- Epi view
sphero- Ana round
spir- Mtb breath
spirillum His coil little
squam- Grm scale
staphyllo- Grm bunch of grapes
-stat Scp hold
STD Dis sexually transmitted disease
-steric Enz place
-strate Enz layer
stratum Enz layer
strepto- Grm pliant
sub- Enz under
sym- Epi together, same
taxis Flg move
terato- Abc monster
tetra- Flg four
thermo- Mtb heat
thio- Grm sulfur
tinea Fng worm, moth
-tion Grm process, condition
toga Vir cloak
-tomes Pst cut
TORCH Vir Toxoplasma, other, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes
tox- Ana poison
trachoma Dis rough tumor
trans- Gen across
trepo- Ana bore
trich- Flg hair
-trophic Gen nourish
tubercle Fng lump little
turbid His muddy
-tussis Dis cough
typhi- Dis storm
ubiquitous Ana everywhere
ultra- Gen beyond
vache Grm cow
venereal Dis goddess of love
Vibrio Dis shake
vin- His wine
vinegar Grm wine sour
vint- His vineyard
vir- Grm poison
visco- Flg sticky
vulgaris Ana common
xyls His crystals
zygo- Fng join
-zym- His yeast
acet- Grm vinegar
achromatic Scp without color
acid Mtb sour, sharp
actin- Fng radiate
aden- Mtb gland
aero- His air, oxygen
Ag Enz silver
agglutin Vir together stick
AIDS Vir Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
alb- Mtb white
-algia Dis pain
aliquot Plt measured subunit
allo- Enz other
amphi- Flg both
an- His without
ana- Mtb upward
anthrax Grm burning coal
anti- Grm against
apo- Enz detach
arbo- Vir arthropod-borne
aria His air
arthro- Dis joint
asco- Fng sack
-ase Grm enzyme
ATP Mtb adenosine triphosphate
attenuate Grm toward thinness
aureus Dis gold
auto- Str self
axillary Dis armpit
bacillus His rod little
bacter- His rod
basidio- Fng little base, pedestal
bio- His life
blast- Abc immature, bud
-bol- Mtb throw
buccal Ana cheek
campylo- Dis curved
capitis Fng of the head
cata- Mtb downward
cephalo- Vir head
CFU Plt colony forming unit
chemo- Flg transmutation
chlamyd- Dis mantle, cloak
chol- Grm bile
-cide Mtb kill
cis- Gen cut
clappoir Dis brothel
-clave Str break
coccus His grain
coli Dis of the large intestine
coll- Pth glue
con- Flg together
conidia Fng dust
corona Vir crown
CPE Pth cytopathic effects
-crates His power
cruris Fng of the groin
-cule His diminutive
cuvette Gth cup little
cyst- Abc bladder
-cyte Ana cell
de- Mtb remove from
demos Grm people
dermato- Fng skin
dessicate Gth remove moisture
dextro- His right
di- Mtb two
dia- Scp through, across
dino- Pst whirlpool
diplo- Ana double
dis- His reverse, undo
-drome Epi run
dys- Grm faulty
ECHO Vir enteric cytopathogenic human orphan
edema Dis swelling
-egar His sour
-egre Mtb sour
-ella Flg diminutive
EMB Gth Eosin Methylene Blue
-emia Grm blood
en- Enz inside
endo- Ana inner
enter- Grm intestines
enzyme Mtb inside yeast
epi- Grm upon
EPS Ana Extracellular Polymeric Substance
erythro- Fng red
esthet- Grm feeling
etio- His cause
EtOH Str ethyl alcohol
eu- Dis true, well
ex- Gen from
extra- Ana outside
FAD Mtb flavin adenine dinucleotide
fil- Fng hair
flag- Flg beat, whip
flora His plants
flu Pst flow
fract- Scp break
fructo- Mtb fruit
fusion Scp melt, pour
galact- Mtb milk
-genic His produce
GI Dis gastrointestinal
glob- Imn ball
glut- Imn stick, adhere
glyc- Ana sugar
-gnomic Vir know
gono- Gen offspring, genitals
-gram Ana picture
GU Dis genitourinary
H+ Str acid
hal- Grm salt
hapt- Imn attach
HCG Imn human chorionic gonadotropin
hemo- Fng blood
Hemophilus Dis blood loves
hepat- Abc liver
herpes Vir creep, crawl
hex- Mtb six
HFR Gen high frequency recombinant
Hg Grm mercury
hippo- His horse
histo- Ana tissueor story
HIV Vir human immunodeficiency virus
holo- Enz entire
homeo- Pth same
HTST Grm High Temperature Short Time
humor His bodily fluid
hydro- Str water
hygro- Str moisture
hypha Fng thread
iatro- His doctor
idio- His unknown
in vitro Grm in glass
in vivo Grm in life
in- Ana within
-ine Mtb nitrogen containing
inguinal Dis groin
inter- Scp between
intra- Dis within
iris Scp rainbow
iso- Mtb same
-itis Grm inflamation
juga- Flg join
karyo- Ana nucleus
kerat- Epi horn
-kine Imn activate, move
lact- Gth milk
lactis Plt milk
LD50 Pth lethal dose 50%
lepto- Dis weak, fine
leuk- Gen white
levo- His left
lig- Ana tie
lip- Ana fat
-logy His science, study, word
lopho- Ana tuft
LPS Ana lipopolysaccharide
lys- Gth break, loosen
lysis Enz break, process
macro- Grm large
mal- His bad
mastigo- Pst whip
media Dis medium
megaly Pth large
melan- His black
meninx Dis membrane
meniscus Plt moonlittle
-mer Mtb unit
meta- Mtb change, behind, later, beyond
miasma His foul odor
micro- His tiny,1/1,000,000
milli- Scp 1/1000
MMWR Epi Mortality Morbidity Weekly Report
mnem- Vir memory
-monas Dis simple organism
mono- Ana single
morbidity Epi sickness
morph- His change
mort- His death
muco- Ana slime
mumps Vir grimace
mur- Ana mouse
muta- Gen change
my- Dis muscle
myco- Grm fungus
myxo- Vir slime
NAD Mtb nicotine adenine dinucleotide
nadir His lowest point
NAG Ana N acetylglucoseamine
NAM Grm N acetylmuramic acid
nano- Scp nine
necro- Fng dead
-nema Ana thread
nephri- Dis kidney
NGU Dis non-gonococcal urethritis
nigri- Fng black
noc- Ana poison
-nomy Dis rule
nosocomial His one who cares for the sick, work [hospital acquired]
nox- Ana poison
ocul- Scp eye
-oid Flg like
-ol Gth alcohol
omnis His all
ornitho- Dis bird
ortho- Vir straight
-ose Mtb sugar
oto- Dis ear
pallid Flg faint
para- Vir alongside
parenteral Pth alongside intestine
pathos His suffer, disease
pedis Fng of the foot
penta- Flg five
peps- Grm digest
per- Pth throughout
peri- Ana around
phago- Grm eat
pharynx Dis throat
-philic Str like
phlegm His watery
-phobic Str fear, hate
-phore Pst to bear
-phragm Scp membrane
-phtheria Fng membrane
-phylaxis Imn protect
-phytic Fng plant
pico- Scp tiny
pilus Ana hair
placebo Epi I will please
plast- Ana form, shape
pleio Ana many
pneumo- Dis air
poie- Abc to form
poly- Ana many
portal Epi gateway
pox Grm mark, scar
PPNG Dis penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhea
pro- Ana first
pruritis Dis itch inflamation
pseudo- Dis false
psittaci Dis parrot
psychro- Mtb cold
ptom- Fng fall
puerperal His childbed
purul- Dis pusy
-pus Fng foot
putri- His rotten
pyo- Grm pus
pyogenes Grm pus producing
pyr- Mtb fire
q.s. Str quantum sufficit
retro- Vir backward
rhabdo- Vir stick, rod
rheo- Scp flow
rheum- Fng watery
rhino- Vir nose
rhizo- Dis root
RTF Gen resistance transfer factor
Rubella Vir red little
rxn Ana reaction
sacchar- Ana sugar
sangui- Grm blood
sapro- Fng rotten
sarco- Pst flesh
schiz- Pst split
scope His examine
-scopic Str examine
-script Gen write
septic His rotten
septum Gen partition
serum Imn whey
spect- Epi view
sphero- Ana round
spir- Mtb breath
spirillum His coil little
squam- Grm scale
staphyllo- Grm bunch of grapes
-stat Scp hold
STD Dis sexually transmitted disease
-steric Enz place
-strate Enz layer
stratum Enz layer
strepto- Grm pliant
sub- Enz under
sym- Epi together, same
taxis Flg move
terato- Abc monster
tetra- Flg four
thermo- Mtb heat
thio- Grm sulfur
tinea Fng worm, moth
-tion Grm process, condition
toga Vir cloak
-tomes Pst cut
TORCH Vir Toxoplasma, other, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes
tox- Ana poison
trachoma Dis rough tumor
trans- Gen across
trepo- Ana bore
trich- Flg hair
-trophic Gen nourish
tubercle Fng lump little
turbid His muddy
-tussis Dis cough
typhi- Dis storm
ubiquitous Ana everywhere
ultra- Gen beyond
vache Grm cow
venereal Dis goddess of love
Vibrio Dis shake
vin- His wine
vinegar Grm wine sour
vint- His vineyard
vir- Grm poison
visco- Flg sticky
vulgaris Ana common
xyls His crystals
zygo- Fng join
-zym- His yeast
David Fankhauser 