paleo-


  1. a combining form meaning “old” or “ancient,” especially in reference to former geologic time periods, used in the formation of compound words: paleobotany.

Origin of paleo-

1
From Greek palaio-, combining form of palaiós
  • Also especially before a vowel, pale-; especially British, palae-, palaeo- .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for paleo-

paleo-

combining form
  1. variants (esp US) of palaeo-

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

Scientific definitions for paleo-

paleo-

  1. A prefix that means “prehistoric” (as in paleontology) or “early or primitive” (as in Paleolithic).

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.