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

A video was posted to Michael Washington’s Facebook page, that has since been reposted on several platforms, along with the hastags #MYCO and #WEARETRSTRONG.

From Fox News

“The plea is in the best interest of justice, your honor,” Assistant District Attorney Christopher Myco said.

From Washington Times

“Myco” refers to things related to fungi but mycoprotein is not from mushrooms.

From Scientific American

Michael Chen, president of Myco Furniture in Houston, said he had been using factors — groups that buy a company’s receivables at a reduced rate — but switched to credit insurance through Euler Hermes as a way to cut costs and be more selective in what the company insured.

From New York Times

A strain of myco­plasma then evolved the capacity to en­ gulf other organisms, an ability retained by many eukaryotes today.

From Scientific American

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?