hexa-

especially before a vowel, hex-.

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

   hexapartite.

hexa-

combining form

1. six

   hexachord

   hexameter

Word History and Origins

Origin of hexa-¹

Combining form representing Greek héx six

Word History and Origins

Origin of hexa-¹

from Greek, from hex _six

Example Sentences

For a continent-sized, soccer-crazed country that would normally be sharing a collective dream for the hexa — a historic sixth title — the bid for the global championship is raising a deeply personal question.

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Tay-Sachs is a severe neurological disease caused by a deficiency in an enzyme called HexA.

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Without HexA, however, this fatlike substance can accumulate to toxic levels that damage and kill neurons.

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The only effective way to treat Tay-Sachs is to restore the HexA enzyme in the brain.

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In the case of Tay-Sachs, these DNA instructions enter the nucleus of these cells and stay there, allowing for long-term production of HexA.

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When To Use

What does hexa- mean?

Hexa- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “six.” It is used in a great many scientific and other technical terms.In chemistry, hexa- is specifically used to indicate six atoms or six groups of atoms in compounds, e.g., hexachloride.Hexa- comes from the Greek héx, meaning “six.” The Latin for “six” is sex, source of the combining forms sex- and sexi-, which you can learn more about at our Words That Use articles for the terms. And we know what you’re thinking: the Latin sex has no relation to that common English meaning of sex.What are variants of hexa-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, hexa- becomes hex-, as in hexose.