Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A termination of many adjectives (and of nouns thence derived) of Greek origin, meaning ‘having the form or resemblance’ (often implying an incomplete or imperfect resemblance) of the thing indicated, ‘like,’ as in
anthropoid , like man, crystalloid, like crystal, hydroid, like water, etc. It is much used as an English formative, chiefly in scientific words.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- suffix A suffix or combining form meaning like, resembling, in the form of.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- suffix Of similar form to, but not the same as. Having the likeness of. Suffix appended to various words to make an adjective form.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word -oid.
Examples
-
The -oid suffix, rooted in the Greek for “shape,” creates a noun or adjective meaning “similar but not the same; having the characteristics of.”
No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003
-
The -oid suffix, rooted in the Greek for “shape,” creates a noun or adjective meaning “similar but not the same; having the characteristics of.”
No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003
-
The -oid suffix, rooted in the Greek for “shape,” creates a noun or adjective meaning “similar but not the same; having the characteristics of.”
No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003
-
The -oid suffix, rooted in the Greek for “shape,” creates a noun or adjective meaning “similar but not the same; having the characteristics of.”
No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.