helio
Origin of helio
Other definitions for helio (2 of 2)
Origin of helio-
WORDS THAT USE HELIO-
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-.
Examples of helio-
One example of a term that features the form helio- is heliolatry, meaning “worship of the sun.”
We know helio- means “sun,” and the -latry portion of the word refers to “worship,” from Greek -latria. Heliolatry literally translates to “sun worship.”
What are some words that use the combining form helio-?
- heliodor (using the equivalent form of helio- in German)
- heliogram
- heliograph
- heliometer
- heliophyte
- heliosphere
- heliotype
What are some other forms that helio- may be commonly confused with?
Break it down!
The combining form -phyte means “plant with a specific habitat.” With this in mind, what kind of plant does the botanical term heliophyte refer to?