chromo

¹

[ kroh-moh ]

noun

, plural chro·mos.

1. chromolithograph.

chromo-

²

1. variant of chrom- before a consonant:

   chromophore.

chromo-

¹

combining_form

1. indicating colour, coloured, or pigment

   chromogen

2. indicating chromium

   chromyl

chromo

²

/ ˈkrəʊməʊ /

noun

1. short for chromolithograph

Word History and Origins

Origin of chromo¹

By shortening; -o

Word History and Origins

Origin of chromo¹

from Greek khrōma colour

Example Sentences

Chromo-lithographed cover, with heavy silk fringe and tassel.

From Project Gutenberg

Each physician is accumulating ornamental objects for his own ward—chromo-lithographs, etc.—such as will soothe sick eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

There was long and thoughtful discussion of this point; and we finally decided to send him a chromo.

From Project Gutenberg

The colored plates are reproduced in the highest style of chromo-lithography from Mr. Thorburn's elaborate drawings.

From Project Gutenberg

But a lake, even the prettiest, does not rise above the effects of a chromo-lithograph.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use Chromo-

What does chromo- mean?

Chromo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “color.” It is used in many medical and scientific terms.

Chromo- comes from the Greek chrôma, meaning “color” and is the source of the words chroma and chrome, among many others. The chemical element chromium is so named for the colorful compounds the metal can form.

Chromo- is a variant of chrom-, as in chromesthesia, used when combined with words or word elements beginning with a consonant.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use chrom– article.

A corresponding form of chromo- and chrom- combined to the end of words is -chrome, as in polychrome.

Closely related to chromo- are the combining forms chromato– and chromat–.

Examples of chromo-

A word you have likely come across that features chromo- is chromosome, a threadlike structure that carries genes and whose main component is DNA.

The first part of the word, chromo-, means “color.” The second part of the word, –some, means “body,” which comes from the Greek sôma. Chromosome literally translates to “colored body,” a reference to the way the molecules can be readily stained by dyes. Learn more at our entry for the related word chromatin.

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

• chromoblast
• chromocyte
• chromocenter
• chromodynamics
• chromogenic
• chromolithography
• chromolysis
• chromoplasm

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

• chemo-
• chemi-
• chiro-
• chir-
• chloro-
• chlor-
• chrono-
• chron-
• chorio-
• chori-

Break it down!

The combining form –genic often means “producing or causing.” What does something described as chromogenic produce, generally speaking?