rhod-

American  

1. variant of rhodo- before a vowel.

   rhodamine.

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Usage

What does rhod- mean? Rhod- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “rose” or “rose-colored,” i.e., “pink” or “red.”  It is used in some medical and scientific terms, including in biology and geology. Rhod- comes from the Greek rhódon meaning “rose.”If this Greek root sounds familiar, it might be because it helps form the word rhododendron, a kind of shrub with pink and other colored flowers. Rhododendron literally translates to "rose tree" in Greek. And while its ultimate origin is unclear, some scholars have connected the name of the Greek island of Rhodes, whose ancient harbor was home to the wondrous bronze statue known as Colossus of Rhodes, to the Greek rhódon, “rose.”Rhod- is a variant of rhodo-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use rhodo- article.