pyro

¹

[ pahy-roh ]

noun

, Informal.

, plural py·ros.

1. a pyromaniac.

pyro-

²

1. a combining form meaning “fire,” “heat,” “high temperature,” used in the formation of compound words:

   pyrogen; pyrolusite; pyromancy.

2. Chemistry. a combining form used in the names of inorganic acids, indicating that the acid's water content is intermediate between that of the corresponding ortho- (more water) and meta- (least water) acids ( pyroantimonic, H 4 Sb 2 O 7 , pyroarsenic, H 4 As 2 O 7 , and pyrosulfuric, H 2 S 2 O 7 , acids ). The combining form is also used in the names of the salts of these acids. If the acid ends in -ic, the corresponding salt ends in -ate ( pyroboric acid, H 2 B 4 O 7 , and potassium pyrobate, K 2 B 4 O 7 , or pyrosulfuric, H 2 S 2 O 7 , and pyrosulfate, N 2 S 2 O 7 ); if the acid ends in -ous, the corresponding salt ends in -ite ( pyrophosphorous acid, H 4 P 2 O 5 , potassium pyrophosphite, K 4 P 2 O 5 ).

pyro-

combining_form

1. denoting fire, heat, or high temperature

   pyromania

   pyrometer

2. caused or obtained by fire or heat

   pyroelectricity

3. chem
   1. denoting a new substance obtained by heating another

      pyroboric acid is obtained by heating boric acid

   2. denoting an acid or salt with a water content intermediate between that of the ortho- and meta- compounds

      pyro-phosphoric acid

4. mineralogy
   1. having a property that changes upon the application of heat

      pyromorphite

   2. having a flame-coloured appearance

      pyroxylin

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyro¹

By shortening; -o

Origin of pyro²

< Greek pyro-, combining form of pŷr fire

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyro¹

from Gk pur fire

Example Sentences

It is the particular business of a chemical called “pyro” to release this latent image.

From Project Gutenberg

It is to him more than to any other, for instance, that is due the first steps in our knowledge of pyro-(or thermo-) electricity.

From Project Gutenberg

Place a small heap of dry granulated soda (or half a dozen tablets of sodic hydroxide) by the side of the pyro tablets.

From Project Gutenberg

She lighted the little pyro stove, opened a closet and took out a saucepan, a bottle of milk, a sugar dish and some spoons.

From Project Gutenberg

According to Reichenbach, pyro-acetic spirit may be extracted in considerable quantity from beech tar.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use pyro-

What does pyro- mean?

Pyro– is a combining form used like a prefix that has two distinct senses.

The first of these senses is “fire,” “heat,” or “high temperature,” and this form of pyro– is occasionally used in a variety of scientific and technical terms.

The second of these senses is used in terms from chemistry to mean “inorganic acids” or “the salt of inorganic acids.”

Pyro– in both of these senses comes from Greek pŷr, meaning “fire.” The Latin translations of pŷr are ignis and incendium, both of which also mean “fire” and are the sources of terms such as ignite and incendiary. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.

What are variants of pyro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, pyro– becomes pyr–, as in pyric. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on pyr-.

Examples of pyro- with the sense “fire” or "heat"

One example of a term that features the form pyro– that you may have come across is pyromania, “a compulsion to set things on fire.”

The pyro– part of the word means “fire,” and the –mania part of the word means “mania,” or “excessive excitement or enthusiasm.” Pyromania literally means “fire mania.”

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

• pyroelectricity
• pyrogen
• pyrograph
• pyrokinesis
• pyrolysis

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

• pico-
• py-
• pycn-
• pyreto-

Break it down!

The combining form –lysis means “breaking down, loosening, decomposition.” With this in mind, what does pyrolysis mean?

Examples of pyro- with the sense “inorganic acids” or "the salt of inorganic acids"

A term from chemistry that features the from pyro– to refer to “the salt of inorganic acid” is pyroborate, also known as borax, “a white, water-soluble powder or crystals, hydrated sodium borate, Na2B4O7⋅10H2O.”

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

• pyrochlore
• pyrophosphatase
• pyrophosphoric

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

• pico-
• py-
• pycn-
• pyreto-

Break it down!

The word phosphoric means “containing phosphorus.” With this in mind, what is a pyrophosphoric chemical compound?