chlor-

Chlor- is a combining form used like a prefix that can mean “green” or indicate the chemical element chlorine. It is used in many medical and scientific terms, especially in biology and chemistry.

Chlor- comes from the Greek chlōrós, meaning “light green” or “greenish yellow.” Chlorine is so named because the gas has a pale green color.

What are variants of chlor-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a consonant, chlor- becomes chloro-, as in chloroform.

One of many words in chemistry that uses chlor- is chloranil, a type of yellow, crystalline, water-insoluble solid.

Knowing the meaning of chlor- can help you decode an intimidating chemical term like chloranil. The first part of the word, chlor-, indicates the substance contains chlorine. The second part of the word, -anil, comes from aniline, a type of oily liquid.

What are some words that use or are related to the combining form chlor-?

• chloral
• chlorate
• chloracne
• chloramine
• chloric
• chloride
• chlordane
• chloroma
• chlorous
• chlorosis
• chlorthalidone
• chlorpheniramine
• chlorpyrifos
• chloruresis

What are some other forms that chlor- may be commonly confused with?

• chol-
• chir-
• chori-
• chrom-
• chylo-
• col-

Chloroma refers to the development of malignant masses (-oma being a combining form meaning “tumor” or “abnormal growth”) in bones of the body. Based on the meaning of chlor-, what color are these masses?