deuto-

1. a combining form meaning “second or secondary; second in order”, used in the formation of compound words:

   deutoplasm.

Word History and Origins

Origin of deuto-¹

Shortening of deutero- ( def )

Words That Use deuto-

What does deuto- mean?

Deuto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “second” or “secondary.” It is rarely used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

Deuto- comes from Greek deúteros, meaning “second.”

What are variants of deuto-?

Deuto- is a shortened form of deutero- or deuter-, as in deuteropathy.

Examples of deuto-

One example of a scientific term that features the combining form deuto- is deutoplasm, “the reserve nutritive material, as a yolk granule, in the ovarian cytoplasm.”

The form deuto- means “secondary,” as we know. So, what about the -plasm portion of the word? It has a variety of meanings, including “tissue.” Deutoplasm literally translates to “secondary tissue.”

What are some words that use the combining form deuto- or deut-?

• deutencephalon
• deutobromide
• deutocarbonate
• deutochloride
• deuton
• deutoplastic
• deutovum

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

• dento-
• di-
• duo-

Break it down!

The suffix -on is used to name subatomic particles. With this in mind, what does deuton, also known as a deuteron, literally mean?