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uro-
1- a combining form meaning “urine,” used in the formation of compound words:
urology.
uro-
2- a combining form meaning “tail,” used in the formation of compound words:
uropod.
uro-
1combining_form
- indicating a tail
uropod
urostyle
urochord
uro-
2combining_form
- indicating urine or the urinary tract
urology
urolith
urogenital
urochrome
Word History and Origins
Origin of uro-1
Origin of uro-2
Word History and Origins
Origin of uro-1
Origin of uro-2
Example Sentences
We had a tremendous reception at Bafilo, the Uro and all his people turning out to do us honour.
In a similar way the petals and labellum of Odontoglossum Uro-Skinneri have been found reduced to filamentous processes.
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Words That Use uro-
What does uro- mean?
Uro- is a combining form used like a prefix that has two unrelated senses.
The first is “urine.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology. In some terms, such as urostomy, uro- is used to denote the urinary tract, the system for removing urine from the body. This ur- comes from Greek oûron, meaning “urine.” Other combining forms that mean “urine,” such as urino- and urin-, come from the Latin for “urine,” ūrīn(a).
The second is “tail.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in anatomy and zoology. This ur- ultimately comes from Greek ourá, meaning “tail.” The name of the uroboros, a mythological symbol of the snake eating its own tail, comes from this same Greek word.
What are variants of uro-?
When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, both uro- combining forms become ur-; ur- with the sense “urine” forms uremia, while ur- with the sense “tail” forms urite. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use ur- article.
Examples of uro- meaning “urine”
An example of a medical term you may have come across that features the combining form uro- is urology, “the scientific, clinical, and especially surgical aspects of the study of the urine and the genitourinary tract in health and disease.”
The first portion of the word, uro-, here means “urine.” The -logy portion of the word may also look familiar; it is used to name sciences or bodies of knowledge. Urology therefore means “the science of urine.”
What are some words that use the combining form uro-?
What are some other forms that uro- may be commonly confused with?
Break it down!
The combining form -pathy has a variety of meanings, including “disease.” With this in mind, what kind of medical condition is uropathy?
Examples of uro- meaning “tail”
One example of a term from zoology that features the form uro- to mean “tail” is uromere, meaning “any segment of the abdomen of an arthropod.” Arthropods constitute a phylum of animals including insects and spiders.
The combining form uro- in terms from zoology means “tail,” while the -mere portion of the word means “part,” from Greek méros. Uromere literally translates to “tail part.”
What are some words that use the combining form uro-?
What are some other forms that uro- may be commonly confused with?
Break it down!
Lobsters have an appendage known as a uropod that they use to help move around. Given that -pod means “having a foot,” what does uropod mean?
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