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• helio
  helio

  noun

  a heliogram.
• helio-
  helio-

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

helio

¹ American  

[hee-lee-oh] / ˈhi liˌoʊ /

noun

Informal.

• helios
  plural

1. a heliogram.

2. a heliograph.

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helio- ² American  

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

   heliolatry.

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helio- British  

combining form

1. indicating the sun

   heliocentric

   heliolithic

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Usage

What does helio- mean? Helio- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “sun.” It is frequently used in a variety of scientific and technical terms. Helio- comes from Greek hḗlios, meaning “sun.” The Latin cognate, sōl, is the source of several words related to the sun, such as solar and solstice. What are variants of helio-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, helio- becomes heli-, as in heliencephalitis. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for heli-.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• helios
  plural

Etymology

Origin of helio¹

By shortening

Origin of helio-²

< Greek, combining form of hḗlios sun

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

helio helios

Not a Martian set, but a fully powerful Botz ultra-violet helio sender with its attendant receiving mirrors.

From Astounding Stories of Super-Science, May, 1930 by Harry Bates

Prob’ly his old lookin’-glass telegraft is busted,” he added, with slighting reference to the Jerusalem helio.

From King Spruce, A Novel by Holman Day

With notification to the Earth and Mars that they demanded recognition, they were sending the usual routine helio dispatches and reports, quite as though nothing had occurred.

From Tarrano the Conqueror by Ray Cummings

And Snap’s helio mirrors, attuned for an hour now to pick up the faintest signal, were motionless.

From Astounding Stories of Super-Science, March 1930 by Harry Bates

"I want the helio, please," said Avelyn doggedly.

From For the School Colours by Angela Brazil

“Heliothraupis,” they wrote, combines the Greek helios, for “sun,” with thraupis, “meaning ‘finch’ or ‘small bird,’ but in current usage usually referring to tanagers.”

From Slate ● Nov. 20, 2021

Both visible from direct helios at that moment—Red Mars, from this mountain top, glowing like the tip of an arrant-cylinder up there.

From Tarrano the Conqueror by Ray Cummings

Flags and helios were speedily busy in the hands of our signalmen sending back information to the Sirdar.

From Khartoum Campaign, 1898 or the Re-Conquest of the Soudan by Bennet Burleigh

I can't talk in code; I have enough to worry about with the interplanetary helios.

From Wandl the Invader by Ray Cummings

Behind and above, the main body of the fleet sloped in echeloned ranks, hiding the threatened city with an impenetrable terraced wall of buzzing helios and massive forts.

From When the Sleepers Woke by Arthur Leo Zagat