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chlor-

1
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a combining form meaning “green,” used in the formation of compound words: chlorine.
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Also especially before a consonant, chloro-1.

Origin of chlor-

1
Combining form of Greek chlōrós light green, greenish yellow; akin to yellow, gold, gleam

Other definitions for chlor- (2 of 2)

chlor-2

a combining form used in the names of chemical compounds in which chlorine is present: chloramine.
Also especially before a consonant, chloro-2.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

WORDS THAT USE CHLOR-

What does chlor- mean?

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.

Examples of chlor-

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-?

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

Break it down!

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?

How to use chlor- in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chlor-

chlor-

combining form
a variant of chloro-
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
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