-stome

American  

1. a combining form meaning “organism having a mouth or mouthlike organ” (cyclostome ), “mouthlike organ” (cytostome ), as specified by the initial element.

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-stome British  

combining form

1. indicating a mouth or opening resembling a mouth

   peristome

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Usage

What does -stome mean? The combining form -stome is used like a suffix that can indicate an “organism having a mouth or mouthlike organ” or refer to a "mouthlike organ." It is used in many scientific terms, especially in biology and zoology. The form -stome comes from the Greek stóma, meaning “mouth.” This root is the source of the English word stoma (a technical term for a mouth, among other senses) and is related to stomach. Stomach? Our stomachs and mouths are certainly connected—and etymologically so, too. Discover the connection at our entry for the word. Closely related to -stome are -stomous and -stomy. Corresponding forms of -stomous combined to the beginning of words are stomato- and stomat-. Learn more about the specific applications of these forms at our Words That Use articles for them.

Etymology

Origin of -stome

Combining form representing Greek stóma mouth, and stómion little mouth