Understanding Scientific Terms/Common Roots

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Understanding Scientific Terminology
Greek and Latin Roots of Scientific Terms.
Lessons: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Lesson 2 - Common Roots in Science[edit | edit source]

Learn the word roots below.

roots[edit | edit source]

bio  : life
zoo  : animal
geo  : earth
lith/o : stone
cyt/o : cell
archae/o: old / ancient (from Greek arkhaios)
palae/o : ancient (from Greek palaios)
myc/o  : fungus
phyt/a : plant
psych/o: soul or mind
gynec/o (gynaec/o): woman

suffixes[edit | edit source]

-o/logy : The study of
-o/logist : one who studies
-ic : pertaining to

What do these words mean?

EXERCISE • Common Roots • Define the word
  1. archaeology
  2. geology
  3. cytologist
  4. archaeic
SOLUTION • Understanding Scientific Terms/Common Roots • Define the word
  1. The study of ancient things
  2. The study of the Earth.
  3. One who studies cells.
  4. Pertaining to something that is old.


How would you write the words with these meanings?

EXERCISE • Common Roots • Write the word
  1. Someone who studies women.
  2. The study of fungi.
SOLUTION • Understanding Scientific Terms/Common Roots • Write the word
  1. gynecologist
  2. mycology