cupro-

American  

1. variant of cupri-.

   cupronickel.

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cupro- British  

combining form

1. indicating copper

   cupronickel

   cuprite

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Usage

What does cupro- mean? The combining form cupro- is used like a prefix meaning “copper.” It is very rarely used in scientific terms, especially in chemistry.The form cupro- comes from Latin cuprum, meaning “copper.” Find out how copper is related to the name of the country Cyprus at our entry for copper. The Greek translation of cuprum is khalkós, “copper,” which is the source of the combining form chalco-, as in Chalcolithic. Check out our Words That Use article for chalco- for more info.What are variants of cupro-?The form cupro- is a variant of cupr-, which gains an -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with most consonants. When combined with words or word elements that begin with -f-, cupr- becomes cupri-, as in cupriferous.  Want to know more? Check out our Words That Use articles for both forms.

Etymology

Origin of cupro-

from Latin cuprum

Example Sentences

It had a hard jacket of cupro- nickel, like the army bullet, covering a core of softer metal.

From The Treasure-Train by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)