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kerato-
- a combining form meaning “horn,” “cornea,” used in the formation of compound words:
keratogenous.
kerato-
combining_form
- indicating horn or a horny substance
keratin
keratogenous
- indicating the cornea
keratoplasty
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of kerato-1
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Words That Use Kerato-
What does kerato- mean?
Kerato- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “horn” or “cornea.” The cornea is the transparent front part of the eyeball. It is used in some scientific and medical terms, including in ophthalmology and dermatology.
Kerato- comes from the Greek kéras, meaning “horn.” The Latin cousin to kéras is cornū, source of corneus, literally “horn-y.” The term cornea comes from the Latin phrase cornea tēla, meaning “horn-y web,” i.e., “hornlike tissue.”
Another word related to this Greek root is karat, or carat, which is a unit of weight for gemstones. It ultimately comes from the Greek word for “little horn.”
What are variants of kerato-?
When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, kerato- becomes kerat-, as in keratin.
Kerato- and kerat- can also be spelled with an initial c-, becoming cerato- or cerat-, as in keratoid or ceratoid. Variants spelled with c- are pronounced with a soft c sound, e.g., [ ser–uh-toid ]. Learn more at our Words That Use articles for the forms.
Examples of kerato-
Keratotomy, meaning “incision of the cornea,” is one example of a medical term that features the combining form kerato-.
As we know, kerato- represents “cornea.” The second portion of the word, -tomy means “incision, cut.” Keratotomy literally translates to “cornea incision.”
What are some words that use the combining form kerato-?
- keratocele
- keratocyte
- keratoconus
- keratoconjunctivitis
- keratoderma
- keratoepithelioplasty
- keratogenous
- keratometer
What are some other forms that kerato- may be commonly confused with?
Break it down!
The combining form -meter means “measure” and is used to name measuring instruments. What, generally speaking, is the medical instrument keratometer used for?
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