entero-

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

   enterology.

entero-

combining_form

1. indicating an intestine

   enterovirus

   enteritis

Word History and Origins

Origin of entero-¹

< Greek, combining form of énteron intestine

Word History and Origins

Origin of entero-¹

from New Latin, from Greek enteron intestine

Example Sentences

Fue entonces cuando se enteró de la advertencia de la FDA.

From New York Times

Meses después de su visita, se enteró de que su padre, que había inmigrado varios años antes, tenía cáncer de colon.

From Los Angeles Times

“El que entrena a medias se hace pend … entero”, he yells at his young fighters.

From Los Angeles Times

Sandy Campbell, owner and principal designer of Entero Design, says she typically gives her Seattle-area kitchen and bath clients an idea of what to expect in the way of dimensions and/or quantity.

From Seattle Times

A los pocos días, Collins se enteró de que tenía cáncer uterino, de un tipo muy agresivo.

From New York Times

Words That Use entero-

What does entero- mean?

Entero- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “intestine.” The intestines are the long tract of the digestive system that runs from the stomach to the anus. Entero- is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.

Entero- comes from the Greek énteron, meaning “intestine.” A scientific term for the digestive tract (alimentary canal) is enteron, which comes from this same Greek root. The word dysentery, literally meaning “bad bowels,” also derives from the Greek énteron.

What are variants of entero-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, entero– becomes enter–, as in enterectomy.

Examples of entero-

An example of a word you may have encountered that features entero- is enterology, “the branch of medicine dealing with the intestines.”

We know that entero- means “intestine.” The -logy part of the word may also look familiar from such terms as biology among many other examples; it is a combining form used to name branches of science and fields of study. So, enterology has a literal sense of “study of the intestines.”

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

• enterocele
• enterocyst
• enterolith
• enteropathy
• enteropexy
• enteroptosis
• enterostomy
• enterotomy
• enterozoon

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

• ento-
• inter-
• onto-

Break it down!

The combining form -tomy means “incision.” With this in mind, what does the surgical procedure of an enterotomy involve?