myco-

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

   mycology.

myco-

combining_form

1. indicating fungus

   mycology

Word History and Origins

Origin of myco-¹

Combining form representing Greek mýkēs mushroom, fungus

Word History and Origins

Origin of myco-¹

from Greek mukēs fungus

Example Sentences

The present may almost be said to be, in the history of medicine, an era of myco-pathology.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use myco-

What does myco- mean?

Myco- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “mushroom, fungus.” It is used in many medical and scientific terms, especially in biology—as well as in a branch of biology known as mycology, as we’ll discuss below.

Myco- comes from the Greek mýkēs, meaning “mushroom, fungus.”

What are variants of myco-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, myco- becomes myc-, as in mycotic.

The closely related combining forms myceto- and -mycete both also indicate “mushroom, fungus.” The combining form -mycin used in the names of antibiotics, usually those derived from fungi.

Examples of myco-

You may be familiar with the word mycology, meaning “the branch of biology dealing with fungi.” It features the combining form myco-.

The first part of the word, myco-, means “fungus.” (Fungi is a plural form.) The second element, –logy, may look familiar to you. Ultimately from the Greek lógos, meaning “word, saying, discourse,” -logy is commonly used to name fields of study. So, mycology literally translates to “the study of fungus.”

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

• mycobacteria (using the equivalent form of myco- in New Latin)
• mycocecidium (using the equivalent form of myco- in New Latin)
• mycodermatitis
• mycogenous
• mycoparasite
• mycophage
• mycorrhiza

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

• myo-
• myelo-
• myxo-

Break it down!

Flora means “the plants of a particular region or period.” With this in mind, what are mycoflora?