entero-

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

   enterology.

entero-

combining_form

1. indicating an intestine

   enteritis

   enterovirus

Word History and Origins

Origin of entero-¹

< Greek, combining form of énteron intestine

Word History and Origins

Origin of entero-¹

from New Latin, from Greek enteron intestine

Example Sentences

The "entero" prefix denotes the fact that many have been found to cause intestinal problems—often a 24-hour "stomach flu."

From The Daily Beast

Qu falta me hace tu ayuda para ir a apoderarme25 del tesoro entero?

From Project Gutenberg

De all procede el nombre jipijapa, o jipis, con que todos ellos son conocidos en el mundo entero.

From Project Gutenberg

The complication most frequent is pneumonia, and the next entero-colitis.

From Project Gutenberg

Senhor, a man must be mad to bring any horse to Galicia, but twice mad to bring an entero, as you have done.

From Project Gutenberg

My entero swallowed the water greedily; but as we returned towards the inn, I observed that he was sad, and that his head drooped.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use entero-

What does entero- mean?

Entero- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “intestine.” The intestines are the long tract of the digestive system that runs from the stomach to the anus. Entero- is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.

Entero- comes from the Greek énteron, meaning “intestine.” A scientific term for the digestive tract (alimentary canal) is enteron, which comes from this same Greek root. The word dysentery, literally meaning “bad bowels,” also derives from the Greek énteron.

What are variants of entero-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, entero– becomes enter–, as in enterectomy.

Examples of entero-

An example of a word you may have encountered that features entero- is enterology, “the branch of medicine dealing with the intestines.”

We know that entero- means “intestine.” The -logy part of the word may also look familiar from such terms as biology among many other examples; it is a combining form used to name branches of science and fields of study. So, enterology has a literal sense of “study of the intestines.”

What are some words that use the combining form entero-?

• enterocele
• enterocyst
• enterolith
• enteropathy
• enteropexy
• enteroptosis
• enterostomy
• enterotomy
• enterozoon

What are some other forms that entero- may be commonly confused with?

• ento-
• inter-
• onto-

Break it down!

The combining form -tomy means “incision.” With this in mind, what does the surgical procedure of an enterotomy involve?