-opsis

1. a combining form meaning “likeness,” used especially in the names of living organisms and organic structures that resemble the thing named by the initial element:

   coreopsis.

-opsis

combining form

1. indicating a specified appearance or resemblance

   meconopsis

Word History and Origins

Origin of -opsis¹

From the Greek word ópsis appearance, sight

Word History and Origins

Origin of -opsis¹

from Greek opsis sight

Example Sentences

In his recent “Opsis” series, Mr. Breder worked with a neuro-ophthalmologist and a scientific imaging specialist to translate information received by the eye’s photoreceptor cone cells into brilliantly colored abstract forms, which he transferred to canvas.

From New York Times

“I have work to do in the garden, Matty. The core­opsis needs staking and I’ve not had a chance to get to it. You lie down and get some rest, now, while I’m outside. Later we can talk. And you can go into the village and find your friends, for a visit.”

From Literature

OpSIS will soon also have access to foundries owned by Luxtera and by UK aerospace company BAE Systems, headquartered in London.

From Nature

The history of the silicon chip suggests that OpSIS could be hugely influential.

From Nature

Through OpSIS, he will now be able to integrate all the building blocks onto one chip in a more realistic prototype.

From Nature

Words That Use -opsis

What does -opsis mean?

The combining form -opsis is used like a suffix meaning “likeness” or “resemblance.” It is rarely used in scientific terms, especially in medicine.

The form -opsis comes from Greek ópsis, meaning “appearance” and “sight.” Related to ópsis are ophthalmós, “eye,” which gives us the combining form ophthalmo-, as well as ṓps, “eye” or “face,” which is the root of combining forms such as opto-, -opia, and -opsia. The Latin cognate of ópsis, ophthalmo-, and ṓps is oculus, “eye,” the source of the combining form oculo- and the noun monocle. Learn more at our entries for each word.

What are variants of -opsis?

While -opsy is not a variant of -opsis, the two combining forms have a common origin. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for -opsy.

Examples of -opsis

One example of a scientific term that features the form -opsis is stereopsis, meaning “stereoscopic vision; the ability to perceive depth.”

The stere- part of the word means “solid,” particularly in reference to three-dimensionality, from Greek stereós. The form -opsis means “likeness.” Stereopsis roughly translates to “solid likeness.”

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

• caryopsis
• coreopsis (using the equivalent form of -opsis in Latin)

Not every word that ends with the exact letters -opsis, such as synopsis, is necessarily using the combining form -opsis to denote “likeness.” Learn why synopsis means “summary” at our entry for the word.

Break it down!

The combining form kore- comes from Greek kóris, meaning “bedbug.” With this in mind, what does the seed of a plant of the genus Coreopsis look like?