gameto-

1. a combining form representing gamete:

   gametophore.

gameto-

combining_form

1. gamete

   gametocyte

Word History and Origins

Origin of gameto-¹

< New Latin gamet ( a ) gamete + -o- -o-

Words That Use gameto-

What does gameto- mean?

The combining form gameto- is used like a prefix meaning “gamete,” a scientific term for a mature sexual reproductive cell, such as a sperm or egg, that unites with another cell to form a new organism. It is very occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

Gameto- ultimately comes from Greek gameîn, meaning “to marry.”

What are variants of gameto-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, gameto- becomes gamet-, as in gametangium, which uses the Latin equivalent of the form. Additional combining forms of the same general origin include gamo-, -gamous, and -gamy. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for the forms.

Examples of gameto-

One example of a scientific term that features the form gameto- is gametocyte, “a cell that produces gametes.”

The gameto- part of the word means “gamete.” The form -cyte may also seem familiar; it means “cell,” from Greek kýtos. Gametocyte literally translates to “gamete cell.”

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

• gametocide
• gametogenesis
• gametophore
• gametophyte
• gametothallus

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

• genito-
• Germano-
• -gram
• gymno-

Break it down!

The combining form -cide means “killer.” With this in mind, what kind of substance is gametocide?