-stome

American  

1. a combining form meaning “organism having a mouth or mouthlike organ” (cyclostome ), “mouthlike organ” (cytostome ), as specified by the initial element.

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-stome British  

combining form

1. indicating a mouth or opening resembling a mouth

   peristome

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Usage

What does -stome mean? The combining form -stome is used like a suffix that can indicate an “organism having a mouth or mouthlike organ” or refer to a "mouthlike organ." It is used in many scientific terms, especially in biology and zoology.The form -stome comes from the Greek stóma, meaning “mouth.” This root is the source of the English word stoma (a technical term for a mouth, among other senses) and is related to stomach. Stomach? Our stomachs and mouths are certainly connected—and etymologically so, too. Discover the connection at our entry for the word.Closely related to -stome are -stomous and -stomy. Corresponding forms of -stomous combined to the beginning of words are stomato- and stomat-. Learn more about the specific applications of these forms at our Words That Use articles for them.

Etymology

Origin of -stome

Combining form representing Greek stóma mouth, and stómion little mouth