dehydro-

American  

1. a combining form meaning “dehydrogenated,” used in the formation of compound words.

   dehydrochlorinate.

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Usage

What does dehydro- mean? Dehydro- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “dehydrogenated.” Dehydrogenated is a term meaning "to remove hydrogen from (a compound)." It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in chemistry.Dehydro- comes from the word dehydrogenate. The prefix de- means "removal" or "separation." Hydrogenate means "to combine or treat with hydrogen." The first element in hydrogen, hydro-, derives from Greek hýdōr, meaning “water.” To learn more, check out our Words That Use article on the combining form hydro-.