coel-

1. a combining form meaning “cavity,” used in the formation of compound words:

   coelenteron.

coel-

prefix

1. indicating a cavity within a body or a hollow organ or part

   coelenteron

   coelenterate

   coelacanth

Word History and Origins

Origin of coel-¹

Combining form representing Greek koîlos hollow; akin to cave

Word History and Origins

Origin of coel-¹

New Latin, from Greek koilos hollow

Words That Use -coel

What does -coel mean?

The combining form -coel is used like a suffix meaning “cavity.” It is occasionally used in medical terms, especially in pathology.

The form -coele comes from Greek koîlos, meaning “hollow.” The Latin equivalent is cavus, also meaning “hollow,” which is the source of words such as cavity and concave. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.

What are variants of -coel?

In some cases, the form -coel is spelled -cele, as in pseudocele. In other variant spellings, -coel is spelled with a final –e, becoming -coele. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles about -cele and -coele.

Examples of -coel

An example of a medical term that features the form -coel is enterocoel, also spelled enterocoele, meaning “the body cavity formed from an outpocketing of the archenteron.” Archenteron is the developing form of the intestine.

The entero- part of the word means “intestine,” from Greek énteron. The -coel part of the word means “cavity,” as we have already seen. Enterocoel literally translates to “intestine cavity.”

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

• blastocoel
• gastrocoel
• haemocoel
• pseudocoel
• spongocoel

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

• -cle
• -colous
• -cule

Break it down!

The combining form gastro- means “stomach.” With this in mind, what does gastrocoel literally translate to?