cyst
- a sporelike cell with a resistant, protective wall.
- a cell or cavity enclosing reproductive bodies.
- a sac, usually spherical, surrounding an animal that has passed into a dormant condition.
- such a sac plus the contained animal.
- a capsule or resistant covering.
Origin of cyst
Other definitions for cyst (2 of 3)
Other definitions for cyst (3 of 3)
WORDS THAT USE CYST-
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.
Examples of cyst-
One example of a term from pathology that features the form cyst- is cystalgia, “pain in the bladder.”
Here, the form cyst- is used to mean “bladder”—specifically, the urinary bladder. The -algia portion of the word means “pain,” from Greek álgos. Cystalgia literally translates to “bladder pain.”
What are some words that use the combining form cyst-?
What are some other forms that cyst- may be commonly confused with?
How to use cyst in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for cyst (1 of 2)
Word Origin for cyst
British Dictionary definitions for cyst (2 of 2)
Word Origin for -cyst
Scientific definitions for cyst
Cultural definitions for cyst
An abnormal saclike structure that develops in the body and is filled with fluid or semisolid material.