tetra

¹

[ te-truh ]

noun

1. any of several tropical, freshwater fishes of the family Characidae, often kept in aquariums.

tetra-

²

1. a combining form meaning “four,” used in the formation of compound words:

   tetrabranchiate.

tetra-

¹

combining_form

1. four

   tetrameter

tetra

²

/ ˈtɛtrə /

noun

1. any of various brightly coloured tropical freshwater fishes of the genus Hemigrammus and related genera: family Characidae (characins)

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetra¹

1930–35; shortening of New Latin Tetragonopterus former genus name. See tetragon, -o-, -pterous

Origin of tetra²

< Greek, combining form of téttara, neuter of téttares four

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetra¹

from Greek

Origin of tetra²

C20: short for New Latin tetragonopterus (former genus name), from tetragon + -o- + -pterous, from Greek pteron wing

Example Sentences

From a purely environmental standpoint, the statistics in favor of Tetra Pak packaging are astounding.

From The Daily Beast

An ambitious Swiss packaging company, Tetra Pak, presents another alternative to Bag-in-Box.

From The Daily Beast

I had my first taste of Tetra Pak wine from a neon green package labeled “Bandit” a couple of years ago.

From The Daily Beast

In addition, a one-liter Tetra Pak weighs less than a pound.

From The Daily Beast

Eva and her husband Hans Kristian Rausing, heir to the $10bn Tetra Pak fortune, were both friends of Prince Charles.

From The Daily Beast

A small pink flower of the class Tetra dynamia covered the prairie.

From Project Gutenberg

In the case of tetra-substituted compounds, thirty isomers are possible when all the groups are different.

From Project Gutenberg

Sleep may be secured by lowering the blood pressure with half-grain doses of erythrol-tetra-nitrate.

From Project Gutenberg

Fluorescein is readily nitrated, yielding a di- or tetra-nitro compound according to conditions.

From Project Gutenberg

This mixture is treated with potassium chlorate and hydrochloric acid, whereby it is converted into tetra-chlorinated products.

From Project Gutenberg