masto-

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

   mastopathy.

masto-

combining_form

1. indicating the breast, mammary glands, or something resembling a breast or nipple

   mastodon

   mastoid

Word History and Origins

Origin of masto-¹

Combining form representing Greek mastós breast

Word History and Origins

Origin of masto-¹

from Greek mastos breast

Example Sentences

“The fentanyl that is coming across the border is coming into our communities,” said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada, where Biden is down by an average of 6 percentage points to Trump, in an interview.

From Los Angeles Times

Biden, Axelrod, Cortez Masto and other Democrats have been laying the border problem at the feet of Republicans, who tanked a bipartisan bill earlier this year that would have given the president more money and leverage for border enforcement, because former President Trump wanted to keep the issue alive for the campaign.

From Los Angeles Times

And that includes Latino voters, who want both security and fairness in the system, said Cortez Masto, who is of Mexican heritage.

From Los Angeles Times

Central Command said an investigation into the May 3 strike concluded that U.S. forces misidentified the intended al-Qaida target “and that a civilian, Mr. Lufti Hasan Masto, was struck and killed.”

From Seattle Times

Masto’s brother, Mohamed Masto, said reports that his brother, 60, was involved with al-Qaida were “absolute lies” and his killing was “an injustice and an aggression.”

From Seattle Times

Words That Use Masto-

What does masto- mean?

Masto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “breast.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.

Masto- comes from the Greek mastós, meaning “breast.” The Latin-based analog to masto- is mammo-, from mamma, meaning “breast.”

What are variants of masto-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, masto- becomes mast-, as in mastectomy.

Examples of masto-

One example of a medical term that features the combining form masto- is mastotomy, also known as a mammotomy, meaning “incision of the breast.”

We know that masto- means “breast.” The -tomy part of the word may also look familiar; it is a combining form meaning “incision.” Mastotomy literally translates to “breast incision.”

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

• mastocarcinoma
• mastocyte
• mastocytoma
• mastopathy
• mastopexy

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

• meso-
• meta-
• miso-

While it doesn’t use the combining form masto-, mastodon, an extinct elephant-like animal, also comes from the same Greek word for “breast.” Learn more about where the word mastodon comes from at our entry for the word.

Also note that mast cells, from the German Mast (“fattening of animals for slaughter”), are not related to masto-. These cells give their name to such conditions as mastocytosis.

Break it down!

The combining form –pathy has various meanings, including “disease.” With this in mind, what does mastopathy mean in everyday language?