definitions

lacto-

a combining form meaning “milk,” used in the formation of compound words (lactometer); specialized in chemical terminology to mean “lactate,” or “lactic acid.”

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Nearby words

lactifuge, lactigenous, lactigerous, lactim, lactivist, lacto-, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, lactobacillus, lactocele, lactoferrin
Also lacti-; especially before a vowel, lact-.

Origin of lacto-

< Latin lact- (stem of lac milk) + -o-
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for lacto-

lacto-

before a vowel lact-

combining form

indicating milklactobacillus

Word Origin for lacto-

from Latin lact-, lac milk
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for lacto-

lacto-

before vowels, lac-, word-forming element meaning "milk," from Latin lac (genitive lactis) "milk," from PIE root *glakt- (see lactation).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for lacto-

lacto-

pref.

Milk:lactoglobulin.
Lactose:lactase.
Lactic acid:lactate.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.