labio-

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

   labiodental.

labio-

combining_form

1. relating to or formed by the lips and (another organ or part)

   labiodental

Word History and Origins

Origin of labio-¹

Combining form representing Latin labium

Word History and Origins

Origin of labio-¹

from Latin labium lip

Example Sentences

Pero tenía el labio inferior carnoso y ése cabello abundante y castaño que Jorge conocía bien.

From New York Times

Desde su fundación en 1982, OS ha realizado más de 220,000 procedimientos quirúrgicos gratis a niños y jóvenes que nacieron con labio y/o paladar hendido u otras deformidades físicas.

From Washington Times

Esto es muy importante; es la belleza de trabajar en conjunto dos organizaciones – el Comando Sur de Estados Unidos con Operación Sonrisa –que se dedican a ayudar a niños con labio leporino y paladar hendido.

From Washington Times

Dos semanas antes, Ahziya tenía el labio roto, un moretón en las costillas y pellizcos y morados en las orejas.

From Washington Times

El contacto entre el DCF y los padres del niño –Osceola y la madre, Karen Cypress– parece haber comenzado en agosto del 2013, cuando la línea directa de DCF recibió reportes de que, en varias ocasiones, el pequeño había regresado de visitar a su padre “con moretones no explicados y el con labio roto”.

From Washington Times

Words That Use labio-

What does labio- mean?

The combining form labio– is used like a prefix meaning “lip.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in anatomy.

The form labio– comes from Latin labium, meaning “lip.” In anatomy, the English labium (plural labia) is often used to mean “any of the folds of skin bordering the vulva.” Find out more at our entry for labium. The Greek translation of labium is kheîlos, “lip,” as found in the combining form cheilo–. To learn more, check out our Words That Use article about cheilo-.

What are variants of labio-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, labio– becomes labi–, as in labiate, from Latin labiātus. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about labi-.

Examples of labio-

An example of a scientific term that features labio– is labiograph, “an instrument for recording the movements of the lips during speech.”

The labio– portion of the word means “lip,” while the –graph part refers to “drawn” or “recorded,” from Greek –graphos. Labiograph literally translates to “lip drawing.”

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

• labiocervical
• labiochorea
• labiodental
• labiomental
• labioplasty
• labiovelar

What are some other forms that labio– may be commonly confused with?

• biblio-
• lepto-

Not every word that begins with the exact letters labio– or labi-, such as labile and lability, is necessarily using the combining form labio– to denote “lip.” Learn why labile means “likely to change” at our entry for the word.

Break it down!

The combining form –plasty is used to mean “surgical repair” or “plastic surgery.” With this in mind, what kind of medical procedure is a labioplasty?