-oid

American  

1. a suffix meaning “resembling,” “like,” used in the formation of adjectives and nouns (and often implying an incomplete or imperfect resemblance to what is indicated by the preceding element).

   alkaloid; anthropoid; cardioid; cuboid; lithoid; ovoid; planetoid.

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-oid British  

suffix

1. indicating likeness, resemblance, or similarity

   anthropoid

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–oid Scientific  

1. A suffix meaning “like” or “resembling,” as in ellipsoid, a geometric solid that resembles an ellipse.

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Usage

What does -oid mean? The suffix -oid means “resembling” or "like." It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.The suffix -oid comes from Greek -oeidēs, from eîdos meaning “form.”What are variants of -oid?The plural form of -oid used in the names of zoological classes is -oidea, as in cynoidea. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on -oidea.

Etymology

Origin of -oid

< Greek -oeidēs, equivalent to -o- -o- + -eidēs having the form of, derivative of eîdos form