Science Science VocabularyVocabulary

Using word parts to facilitate Using word parts to facilitate meaningmeaning

Derivation of Many Science Derivation of Many Science TermsTerms

From two ancient languagesFrom two ancient languages GreekGreek LatinLatin

A list of these is inside the front A list of these is inside the front cover of the Martini textcover of the Martini text

Did you know that many Did you know that many science terms are “built” science terms are “built”

from word parts?from word parts?

Derivation from Greek Derivation from Greek Word PartsWord Parts

Did you know?Did you know?BiologyBiology

BioBio = life = lifeLogyLogy = the study of = the study of

BioBiologylogy = the study of life = the study of life

Derivation from Derivation from LatinLatin Word Word PartsParts

BilingualBilingualBiBi- = two- = twoLingu/oLingu/o = tongue, language = tongue, language--alal = pertaining to = pertaining to

BiBilingulingualal = pertaining to two = pertaining to two languageslanguages

A Medical ExampleA Medical Example

HypodermicHypodermic

A Medical Example That A Medical Example That Uses Uses

the Three Main Word Parts the Three Main Word Parts The term “hypodermic” is made up The term “hypodermic” is made up

of three word partsof three word parts

Word RootsWord Roots

The foundations of termsThe foundations of terms HypoHypodermdermic: “derm” is a word ic: “derm” is a word

root meaning skinroot meaning skin Sometimes you will see these Sometimes you will see these

presented with a vowel at the end presented with a vowel at the end (derm/o). These are called (derm/o). These are called “combining forms”.“combining forms”.

PrefixesPrefixes

Word parts appearing at the Word parts appearing at the beginning of a term that beginning of a term that modify its meaningmodify its meaning

HypoHypodermic: “hypo” is a dermic: “hypo” is a prefix meaning under or belowprefix meaning under or below

SuffixesSuffixes

Word parts appearing at Word parts appearing at the end of a term to modify the end of a term to modify the meaningthe meaning

HypodermHypodermicic: “ic” is a suffix : “ic” is a suffix meaning pertaining to (an meaning pertaining to (an adjective ending)adjective ending)

Putting Them All Putting Them All TogetherTogether

Using your knowledge of the Using your knowledge of the meanings of the three word meanings of the three word parts, the term “parts, the term “hypohypodermdermicic” ” means pertaining to under or means pertaining to under or below the skinbelow the skin

A A hypodermichypodermic needle injects a needle injects a substance underneath the skin. substance underneath the skin.

Chemistry TermsChemistry Terms

EndoEndothermthermicic Endo-Endo- a prefix meaning withina prefix meaning within Therm/Therm/ a word root meaning heata word root meaning heat -ic-ic a suffix meaning pertaining toa suffix meaning pertaining to Definition: Definition: pertaining to (taking) pertaining to (taking)

heat in heat in

A Contrasting Chemistry A Contrasting Chemistry TermTerm

ExoExothermthermicic Exo-Exo- a prefix meaning out, outsidea prefix meaning out, outside Therm/Therm/ a word root meaning heata word root meaning heat -ic-ic a suffix meaning pertaining toa suffix meaning pertaining to Definition: Definition: pertaining to (sending) pertaining to (sending)

heat outheat out

Another Pair of Another Pair of Chemistry TermsChemistry Terms

HomoHomogenegeneousous Homo-Homo- a prefix meaning same, a prefix meaning same,

similarsimilar Gene/Gene/ a word root meaning a word root meaning

kind or typekind or type -ous-ous a suffix meaning pertaining toa suffix meaning pertaining to A homogeneous solution is made of A homogeneous solution is made of

similar types (of substances)similar types (of substances)

Another Pair of Chemistry Another Pair of Chemistry Terms, continuedTerms, continued

HeteroHeterogenegeneousous Hetero-Hetero- a prefix meaning a prefix meaning

differentdifferent Gene/Gene/ a word root meaning a word root meaning

kind or typekind or type -ous-ous a suffix meaning pertaining toa suffix meaning pertaining to A heterogeneous solution is made of A heterogeneous solution is made of

different types (of substances)different types (of substances)

A Closer Look at PrefixesA Closer Look at Prefixes

Ren/oRen/o means kidney means kidney

PrefixesPrefixes Peri-Peri- around, surroundingaround, surrounding Supra-Supra- aboveabove Infra-Infra- belowbelow

How Prefixes Change a How Prefixes Change a TermTerm

PeriPerirenrenalal pertaining to pertaining to surrounding a kidneysurrounding a kidney

SupraSuprarenrenalal pertaining to above a pertaining to above a kidneykidney

IntraIntrarenrenalal pertaining to within a pertaining to within a kidneykidney

A Closer Look at SuffixesA Closer Look at Suffixes

Cephal/o Cephal/o = head= head SuffixesSuffixes

-ic-ic pertaining topertaining to-ad-ad towardstowards-algia-algia painpain

How Suffixes Change a How Suffixes Change a TermTerm

CephalCephalicic = pertaining to the = pertaining to the headhead

CephalCephaladad = towards the head = towards the head CephalCephalalgiaalgia = pain in the = pain in the

head, or a headachehead, or a headache

What else do you need to What else do you need to know?know?

How the order of word roots How the order of word roots can change the meaning of can change the meaning of

a term.a term. Anter/oAnter/o frontfront Poster/oPoster/o backback -ior-ior noun endingnoun ending

AnteriorAnterior the front of the bodythe front of the body PosteriorPosterior the back of the the back of the

bodybody

How order of word roots How order of word roots can change the meaning, can change the meaning,

continuedcontinued AnteroposteriorAnteroposterior from the front to from the front to

the backthe back PosterioanteriorPosterioanterior from the back to from the back to

the frontthe front

Awareness of Terms Built Awareness of Terms Built from Word Partsfrom Word Parts

Start your own list of prefixes, suffixes, Start your own list of prefixes, suffixes, and word roots for science terms.and word roots for science terms.

Check your dictionary or glossary to Check your dictionary or glossary to confirm meaning.confirm meaning.

Begin to reap the rewards of being a Begin to reap the rewards of being a more efficient and effective reader with more efficient and effective reader with your increased knowledge of scientific your increased knowledge of scientific terms built from word parts.terms built from word parts.

Questions?Questions?

Feel free to email Betsy Shiland, HIT Feel free to email Betsy Shiland, HIT Department at bshiland@ccp.eduDepartment at bshiland@ccp.edu