-iformes

American  

1. a combining form used in taxonomic names of animals, especially orders of birds and fish, meaning “having the form of ”.

   Beryciformes; Passeriformes.

---

Usage

What does -iformes mean? The combining form -iformes is used like a suffix meaning “having the form of.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in the taxonomic names of animals. The form -iformes comes from Latin -iformis, meaning “having the form of.” The equivalent combining form from Greek is -morphous, from morphḗ, meaning “form.”What are variants of -iformes?In many scientific terms, the form -iformes is a variant of -form, as in dentiform. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on -form.

Etymology

Origin of -iformes

< New Latin, plural of -iformis; see -i-, -form