cupro-

1. variant of cupri-.

   cupronickel.

cupro-

combining form

1. indicating copper

   cupronickel

   cuprite

Word History and Origins

Origin of cupro-¹

from Latin cuprum

Example Sentences

Overall, global production of cellulose-based fibers including lyocell, modal and cupro grew more than 10% to 7.2 million tons in 2022, according to the nonprofit Textile Exchange.

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Uniqlo has expanded its AIRism line using super-fine, smooth fibers made from polyester and cupro, which is made from cotton waste, that it says dry quickly and feel cool.

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From left: Melitta Baumeister cotton blend shorts, $480 at Totokaelo, totokaelo.com; Wales Bonner cupro blend shorts, $525 at Totokaelo, totokaelo.com; Martine Rose cotton cargo shorts, $610 at La Garçonne, lagarconne.com; Marques’ Almeida denim shorts, $350 at La Garçonne, largarconne.com.

Read more on New York Times

Cupro, for example, is a regenerated cellulose fiber made from cotton linter — the silky fibers that stick to the seeds of the cotton plant after it has been ginned.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The collection culminated with silken suits with a comfy pajama feel made out of cupro, a regenerated cotton fiber often used as a silk substitute, and paired with flip-flops.

Read more on Washington Times

When To Use

What does cupro- mean?

The combining form cupro- is used like a prefix meaning “copper.” It is very rarely used in scientific terms, especially in chemistry.The form cupro- comes from Latin cuprum, meaning “copper.” Find out how copper is related to the name of the country Cyprus at our entry for copper. The Greek translation of cuprum is khalkós, “copper,” which is the source of the combining form chalco-, as in Chalcolithic. Check out our Words That Use article for chalco- for more info.What are variants of cupro-?The form cupro- is a variant of cupr-, which gains an -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with most consonants. When combined with words or word elements that begin with -f-, cupr- becomes cupri-, as in cupriferous.  Want to know more? Check out our Words That Use articles for both forms.