cyst-

¹ American  

1. variant of cysto-, before a vowel.

   cystectomy.

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-cyst ² American  

1. variant of cysto-, as final element in a compound word.

   statocyst.

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cyst ³ American  

[sist] / sɪst /

noun

1. Pathology. a closed, bladderlike sac formed in animal tissues, containing fluid or semifluid matter.

2. a bladder, sac, or vesicle.

3. Botany, Mycology.

   1. a sporelike cell with a resistant, protective wall.

   2. a cell or cavity enclosing reproductive bodies.

4. Zoology.

   1. a sac, usually spherical, surrounding an animal that has passed into a dormant condition.

   2. such a sac plus the contained animal.

   3. a capsule or resistant covering.

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-cyst ¹ British  

combining form

1. indicating a bladder or sac

   otocyst

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cyst ² British  

/ sɪst /

noun

1. pathol any abnormal membranous sac or blisterlike pouch containing fluid or semisolid material

2. anatomy any normal sac or vesicle in the body

3. a thick-walled protective membrane enclosing a cell, larva, or organism

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cyst Scientific  

/ sĭst /

1. An abnormal membranous sac in the body, containing a gaseous, liquid, or semisolid substance.

2. A small, capsulelike form of certain organisms that develops in response to adverse or extreme conditions. Under adverse conditions, for instance, dinoflagellates form nonmotile resting cysts that fall to the ocean or lake bottom and can remain there for years before reviving. Certain invertebrates, such as the water bear (phylum Tardigrada), also develop cysts.

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cyst Cultural  

1. An abnormal saclike structure that develops in the body and is filled with fluid or semisolid material.

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Usage

What does cyst- mean? The combining form cyst- is a combining form used like a suffix meaning “cyst,” which is a scientific term for a bladder, sac, or vesicle. It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology and pathology.The form cyst- comes from Greek kýstis, meaning “bag,” “pouch,” or “bladder.”What are variants of cyst-?The form cyst- is a variant of cysto-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.A rare variant of cysto- is cysti-, as in cystiform.When used as a suffix, the combining form cyst- becomes -cyst, as in oocyst. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for these forms.

What does -cyst mean? The combining form -cyst is used like a suffix meaning “cyst,” which is a scientific term for a bladder, sac, or vesicle. It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.The form -cyst comes from Greek kýstis, meaning “bag,” “pouch,” or “bladder.”What are variants of -cyst?When used as a prefix, the combining form -cyst variously becomes cyst-, cysti-, or cysto- (as in cystoma). Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for these forms.

Etymology

Origin of cyst

First recorded in 1705–15; from New Latin cystis, from Greek kýstis “bag, pouch, bladder”; akin to kŷma cyma

Example Sentences

For many years, scientists assumed that each cyst housed a single, uniform type of parasite that remained inactive until it reawakened.

From Science Daily

Their research shows that every cyst contains multiple parasite subtypes, each performing different biological functions.

From Science Daily

"We found the cyst is not just a quiet hiding place -- it's an active hub with different parasite types geared toward survival, spread, or reactivation," said Emma Wilson, a professor of biomedical sciences in the UCR School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

From Science Daily

Each cyst is surrounded by a protective wall and packed with hundreds of slow-growing parasites known as bradyzoites.

From Science Daily

"Our research challenges that model. By applying single-cell RNA sequencing to parasites isolated directly from cysts in vivo, we found unexpected complexity within the cyst itself. Rather than a uniform population, cysts contain at least five distinct subtypes of bradyzoites. Although all are classified as bradyzoites, they are functionally different, with specific subsets primed for reactivation and disease."

From Science Daily

Related Words

• blister
• sac
• sore