Medical Root

bacteri/o

bacteria

From Greek bakterion, little staff or rod

Meaning

What does bacteri/o mean?

bacteri/o is a root meaning bacteria. It comes from Greek bakterion, little staff or rod.

Inside words it is spelled bacter or bacteri.

Before -emia the i drops, giving bacteremia; before other endings it stays, as in bacteriuria.

In real words

bacteriology
1. Rootbacteri/obacteria
2. Suffix-logystudy of
the study of bacteria, especially those that cause disease
bacteriuria
1. Rootbacteri/obacteria
2. Suffix-uriaurine, urination
the presence of bacteria in the urine
bacteremia
1. Rootbacteri/obacteria
2. Suffix-emiablood condition, in the blood
the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream · UK spelling: bacteraemia
bacteriostasis
1. Rootbacteri/obacteria
2. Suffix-stasisstopping, standstill, control
holding back the growth and multiplication of bacteria
antibacterial
killing bacteria or stopping their growth · In the dictionary

In the dictionary

Terms in our life science dictionary that list bacteri/o among their word parts.

Sources

Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:

Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll correct it.

Practice it

bacteri/o is one of 8 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.