leuco-

1. variant of leuko-.

leuco-

combining_form

1. white or lacking colour

   leucocyte

   leukaemia

   leucorrhoea

Word History and Origins

Origin of leuco-¹

from Greek leukos white

Example Sentences

When indigo is mixed with substances like lime and copperas, lime and zinc, zinc and bisulphite of soda, which cause the evolution of nascent hydrogen, it takes up this body and passes into another substance which is called indigo white that has the formula C16H12N2O2, leuco, or white indigo; this substance is soluble in water, and so when it is formed the indigo passes into solution and can then be used for dyeing.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use leuco-

What does leuco- mean?

Leuco- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “white” or “white blood cell. It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology.

Leuco- comes from the Greek leukós, meaning “white, bright.” One of the most familiar words related to leuco- is leukemia, sometimes spelled leucemia. Leukemia is any of the cancers of the bone marrow that prevent the normal manufacture of blood cells. The English word leukemia comes immediately from the German Leukämie, in turn based on the Greek leukós.

What are variants of leuco-?

A common spelling variant of leuco- is leuko-, as in leukoblast. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use leuko- article.

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, leuco- becomes leuc-, as in leucemia.

Examples of leuco-

The combining form leuco– is helpful for understanding the medical term leucoderma, also known as vitiligo, “a skin disorder characterized by smooth, white patches on various parts of the body, caused by the loss of the natural pigment.”

The form leuco- means “white.” As you may have suspected, the combining form –derma means “skin,” particularly “skin disease.” Leucoderma literally translates to “white skin disease,” which refers to the white patches of the conditions.

What are some words that use the combining form leuco-?

• leucoblast
• leucocyte
• leucocytosis
• leucomaine
• leucopenia
• leucoplast

What are some other forms that leuco- may be commonly confused with?

• lepto-
• lipo-

Break it down!

The combining form –penia means “lack, deficiency.” With this in mind, what does the medical condition leucopenia involve?