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homo

1 American  
[hoh-moh] / ˈhoʊ moʊ /

noun

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

plural

homos
  1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay person, especially a gay man.


Homo 2 American  
[hoh-moh] / ˈhoʊ moʊ /

noun

  1. the genus of bipedal primates that includes modern humans and several extinct forms, distinguished by their large brains and a dependence upon tools.

  2. Facetious. (used in made-up taxonomic expressions to denote a type of human being).

    The door opens, and in walks Homo stupidus.


homo- 3 American  
  1. a combining form appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “same” (homology ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words (homomorphic ).


homo- 1 British  

combining form

  1. being the same or like Compare hetero-

    homologous

    homosexual

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

homo 2 British  
/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

  1. informal homogenized milk

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Homo 3 British  
/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

  1. a genus of hominids including modern man (see Homo sapiens ) and several extinct species of primitive man, including Homo habilis and Homo erectus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

homo 4 British  
/ ˈhəʊməʊ /

noun

  1. informal short for homosexual

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

homo– Scientific  
  1. A prefix meaning “same,” as in homogamous, having the same kind of flower.


Homo Cultural  
  1. The genus to which human beings belong. The genus Homo includes Neanderthals and other hominids closely related to today's humans, such as Homo erectus.


Etymology

Origin of homo1

First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening of homosexual ( def. )

Origin of Homo1

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin homō “man, human,” literally “the earthly one,” derivative of humus “earth, ground, soil”; related to Latin hūmānus “pertaining to man, human”; akin to Old English guma, Old Irish duine, Welsh dyn, Old Lithuanian žmuõ “human being”; humus, human

Origin of homo-1

< Greek, combining form of homós one and the same; akin to Sanskrit sama-; same

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But their construction, and ingenuity, has one wondering about the intelligence and fortitude of these homo sapiens who lived as many as 9,000 years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal

At least on this planet, only members of homo sapiens are freaky enough to be entertained by a cat dressed as an avocado.

From Salon

Because there's a parallel between Ricardo as a stockbroker and the idea of "homo economicus."

From Salon

His brand of toiletry involves writing stories for the absolutely lowest common denominator of homo sapiens.

From Salon

Musk is convinced of this, in part, because he fears artificial intelligence will very soon become all-powerful and inclined to exterminate homo sapiens.

From Seattle Times