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• dia-
  dia-

  a prefix occurring in loanwords from Greek (diabetes; dialect ) and used, in the formation of compound words, to mean “passing through” (diathermy ), “thoroughly,” “completely” (diagnosis ), “going apart” (dialysis ), and “opposed in moment” (diamagnetism ).
• dia.
  dia.

  abbreviation

  diameter.
• dia–
  dia–

  A prefix meaning “through” or “across,” as in diameter, the length of a line going through a circle.

dia-

¹ American  

1. a prefix occurring in loanwords from Greek (diabetes; dialect ) and used, in the formation of compound words, to mean “passing through” (diathermy ), “thoroughly,” “completely” (diagnosis ), “going apart” (dialysis ), and “opposed in moment” (diamagnetism ).

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dia. ² American  

abbreviation

1. diameter.

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dia- British  

prefix

1. through, throughout, or during

   diachronic

2. across

   diactinic

3. apart

   diacritic

4. (in botany) at right angles

   diatropism

5. in opposite or different directions

   diamagnetism

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dia– Scientific  

1. A prefix meaning “through” or “across,” as in diameter, the length of a line going through a circle.

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Etymology

Origin of dia-

< Greek, combining form representing diá (preposition) through, between, across, by, of, akin to dýo two and di- di- ¹

Example Sentences

Angele chandelier of hand-sculpted plaster, 32” dia. x 24” h.; to the trade from Dessin Fournir.

From Architectural Digest • Jan. 7, 2015

RH Mercury Glass table lamp, 32.25" h. x 7.5" dia.;

From Architectural Digest • Dec. 1, 2014

Bunny Williams for Ballard Designs Tortoise blown-glass hurricane lamp, 16" h. x 6" dia.;

From Architectural Digest • Dec. 1, 2014

The Beater in the Opener Section may be a two-blade rigid Beater, 18 in. dia., or a 30-in. dia.

From Illustrated Catalogue of Cotton Machinery by Company, Howard & Bullough American Machine

Roll, 32 pitch, taken as 9/6-in. or 1.50-in. dia. 1-in. dia.

From Illustrated Catalogue of Cotton Machinery by Company, Howard & Bullough American Machine