Some Common Science Prefixes And Suffixes

LIVING ENVIRONMENT NAME:_ PD:
MRS. LUKUNKU DATE:

Dtflnbtg Vocabulary Words

Do you get "turned off by the vocabulary in science books? So do most students, until
they learn that all those long words are just small words joined together.

The following activity will teach you how to look for "hints" in long words so that it will
be easier for you to figure out what they mean. For example, when you see the word "zoology"
you will find two hints. Zoo means something to do with animals and logy refers to science.
Put both hints together and what do you get? Right! Zoology is the science that studies animals.
Let's try another word. What is the meaning of cytology? There's that hint logy again-you now
know logy means science. Check the list below and find cyto. When you put the two hints
together you get cell science, therefore, cytology must be the science that studies cells.

The list below contains some common word hints called prefixes and suffixes. 1 Use this
list to help you define the words in the following activity. You can also refer to this list when
you find a word in your reading that is unfamiliar to you.

Some Common Science Prefixes And Suffixes

a- not, without deca- ten
ab- from, away.off deci-
aero- air, atmosphere dermato- tenth part
an- not, without di- skin
anti- opposed, against diplo- double, twice
auto- self dorso- double
bi- ec-,eco back
bio- two ecto- environment
endo- outside, external
botane life exo- within, inside
cardi- pasture, herbs extra- outside, outer
cam- heart gastro- outside
centi- flesh geo- stomach
cerebro- hundred, hundredth graph earth, ground
chemo- brain hemi- written
-cide chemical, chemistry hemo- half
cranio- killer herb- blood
cyto-,-cyte cranium (skull) plant
cell

'Definitions were taken from Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., 1988.

Name Class Date

homo- same, similar, alike ostep bone
hydro- water ovi-
hyper- above, beyond -phage egg
hypo- under, down photo- one that eats
in- within, into -plasm light
inter- between, among -pod formed material
intra- within, between foot
-itis disease, inflammation pro- before
kilo- thousand pseudo- false
-lateral side pultno- lung
-logy science reni- kidney
macro- large -scope viewing instrument
meso- in the middle semi- half
among, with spertnato seed
meta- measuring instrument under, below
-meter small, minute sub-
micro- thousandth -synthesis to combine
milli- one, single therm- heat
mono- kidney trans- across, beyond
nephro- nerve tri- three
neuro- not, other than uni- one, single
non- -vore eating, feeding
zoo- animal

DIRECTIONS: Define the following words using the prefixes and suffixes in the preceding list
and your knowledge of the English language.

dermatitis decimeter

herbivore cytoplasm

geology mesoderm_

nephrology. hypoactive_

bilateral gastroscope.

abnormal prophase_

cardiology intramuscular,

ecology exoskeleton

biology extracellular

endosperm photosynthesis,

hypothermic_ millimeter

intercellular. carnivorous,

antibody hemisphere,

insecticide cranial

thermometer asexual,

neurosurgeon. dorsal

Living Environment Name: Pd:
Mrs. Lukunku Date:

AIM: WHAT IS SCIENCE?
DO NOW: Define the terms: hyperactive, macrophage, renitis, and pseudopod.

1. S is the body of k ' ___ that comes from the
study of n and the
f and the u

that affect them.

2. Science includes 3 different things.

A. f : truths based upon repeated experimentation and careful

observations

B. t : possible explanations of facts or complex problems

based upon repeated experimentation and careful observations

C. m : simplified representations of complex objects,

structures or processes

3. Scientific knowledge comes about through many steps.
A. scientific problem -
B. hypothesis -

C. experimentation -
D. theories and models -
E. scientific principles/laws -

4. T is an object or process that makes life easier; it comes
about by applying s to everyday problems.
Examples include

5. Science can be divided into two major types.
A. physical =
Ex.
B. biological =
Ex.

SUMMARY: 1. Define science & technology.
2. What is the difference between facts and theories?

LIVING ENVIRONMENT NAME:
MRS. LUKUNKU DATE:_ PD:

WORD BUILDING

Science words aren't so tough! They're just combinations of smaller words or
parts of words (prefixes, suffixes, roots) that you know. Yes you do. Below

are some prefixes, suffixes and roots.

PREFIXES ROOTS SUFFIXES

co - with, together respire - to breathe -ation - the act of
auto - self troph - feeder -lysis - break
hetero - other syn - together -ize - to make
chemo - chemicals cell - small place, unit, -er - one who
intra - within -or - the state of
extra - outside room -y - to make
trans - across, through, beyond ferment - change -thesis - putting in order,
photo - light fix - fasten, make rigid
chloro - green photo - light arranging
epi - upon phyll - leaf
hesion - to stick
derm - skin

Combine them and you will recognize many new words. The word photosynthesis, for

example is a combination of photo syn thesis which means - the putting

together by light. prefix root suffix

Now, use the information above and complete the following:

1. autotroph means

reason: ';
2. chemosynthesis means

reason: _J

3. chlorophyll means

reason: •

4. intracellular means

reason:

5. transpiration means

reason: '

6. photolysis means

reason: