proto-

1. a combining form meaning “first,” “foremost,” “earliest form of,” used in the formation of compound words ( protomartyr; protolithic; protoplasm ), specialized in chemical terminology to denote the first of a series of compounds, or the one containing the minimum amount of an element.

proto-

combining_form

1. indicating the first in time, order, or rank

   protomartyr

2. primitive, ancestral, or original

   prototype

3. indicating the reconstructed earliest stage of a language

   Proto-Germanic

4. indicating the first in a series of chemical compounds

   protoxide

5. indicating the parent of a chemical compound or an element

   protactinium

Word History and Origins

Origin of proto-¹

< Greek, combining form representing prôtos first, superlative formed from pró; pro- ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of proto-¹

from Greek prōtos first, from pro before; see pro- ²

Example Sentences

Although I featured Proto’s newer, round-bowl Rocket pipe in a long-ago gift guide, I figured it was high time to give the original design its due.

From Los Angeles Times

“Reality TV is almost always about reflecting our worries, obsessions and aspirations,” says David Nussbaum, whose firm Proto is behind the AI technology.

From BBC

Locally made paraphernalia options include glass pipes from CoolHandSuuze and an exclusive edition of the Proto Pipe, the Swiss Army knife of pot pipes, made just about 50 miles up the road in Willits.

From Los Angeles Times

“Reality TV is almost always about reflecting our worries, obsessions and aspirations,” says David Nussbaum, whose firm Proto is behind the AI technology.

From BBC

Locally made paraphernalia options include glass pipes from CoolHandSuuze and an exclusive edition of the Proto Pipe, the Swiss Army knife of pot pipes, made just about 50 miles up the road in Willits.

From Los Angeles Times

Words That Use proto-

What does proto- mean?

Proto– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “first,” “foremost,” or “earliest form of.” In terms from chemistry, it specifically denotes the first in a series of compounds or the compound containing the minimum amount of an element. It is often used in scientific and technical terms, especially in biology.

Proto– comes from Greek prôtos, meaning “first.” The word proton, meaning “a positively charged elementary particle,” ultimately shares this same Greek root. The Latin cognate of prôtos is prīmus “first,” which is the source of primary and prime. Check out our entries for both words to learn more.

What are variants of proto-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, proto– becomes prot–, as in protium. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use prot– article.

Examples of proto-

An example of a term from botany that features proto– is protoderm, “a thin outer layer of the meristem in embryos and growing points of roots and stems, which gives rise to the epidermis.”

The proto– part of the word means “earliest form of,” as we already know. The –derm part of the word may also look familiar; it means “dermis,” which is the dense inner layer of skin. Protoderm literally translates to “earliest form of skin.”

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

• protocol (using the equivalent form of proto- in Greek)
• protogenic
• protohuman
• protoplasm (using the equivalent form of proto- in Greek)
• protostome
• prototype (using the equivalent form of proto- in Greek)

What are some other forms that proto– may be commonly confused with?

• pro-
• proct-
• procto-
• proteo-
• protero-

Break it down!

The form -type literally means, well, “type.” With this in mind, what does prototype literally mean?