fructi-

1. a combining form meaning “fruit,” used in the formation of compound words:

   fructiferous.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fructi-¹

< Latin, combining form of frūctus fruit

Words That Use fructi-

What does fructi- mean?

The combining form fructi– is used like a prefix meaning “fruit.” It is very rarely used in scientific terms, especially in botany.

The form fructi– comes from Latin frūctus, meaning “fruit.” The Greek translation of frūctus is karpos, “fruit,” which is the source of the combining form carpo– as well as the name Carpo, who was the Greek goddess of summer fruit. To learn more, read our entries for carpo– and Carpo.

What are variants of fructi-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, fructi– becomes fruct–, as in fructan. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for fruct-.

Examples of fructi-

One of the few terms that use the form fructi– is fructiferous, meaning “fruit-bearing; producing fruit.” Fructiferous comes from Latin frūctiferus, which features the equivalent of the form fructi– in that language.

The fructi– portion of the word means “fruit,” while the form –ferous means “bearing” or “producing.” Fructiferous literally translates to “fruit-bearing” or “fruit-producing.”

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

• fructification (using the equivalent form of fructi– in Latin)
• fructificative
• fructifier
• fructify (using the equivalent form of fructi– in Latin)

What are some other forms that fructi– may be commonly confused with?

• fascio-
• fructo-
• rect-

Break it down!

The suffix –fy means “to make” or “to cause to be.” With this in mind, what does the term fructify literally mean?