lipo-

¹

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

   lipolysis.

lipo-

²

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

   lipography.

lipo-

¹

combining form

1. fat or fatty

   lipoprotein

lipo

²

/ ˈlɪpəʊ, ˈlaɪpəʊ /

noun

1. informal,  short for liposuction

Word History and Origins

Origin of lipo-¹

Combining form representing Greek lípos fat

Origin of lipo-²

< Greek, combining form of lip-, weak stem of leípein to leave, be lacking; see -o-

Word History and Origins

Origin of lipo-¹

from Greek lipos fat

Example Sentences

Studying nearly 1,000 moai statues, Binghamton University Professor of Anthropology Carl Lipo and the University of Arizona's Terry Hunt found that the people of Rapa Nui likely used rope and "walked" the giant statues in a zig-zag motion along carefully designed roads.

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Lipo and his colleagues had previously demonstrated via experimental evidence that the large statues "walked" from their quarry to ceremonial platforms using an upright, rocking motion, challenging a theory that the statues were moved lying prone on wooden devices.

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"Once you get it moving, it isn't hard at all - people are pulling with one arm. It conserves energy, and it moves really quickly," said Lipo.

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To explore how a larger statue might move, Lipo's team created high-resolution 3D models of the moai and identified distinctive design features - wide D-shaped bases and a forward lean - that would make them more likely to be moved in a rocking, zig-zagging motion.

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"The physics makes sense," said Lipo.

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When To Use

What does lipo- mean?

Lipo- is a combining form used like a prefix that has two, unrelated senses.The first is “fat.” This meaning of lipo- is from the Greek lípos, meaning “fat.” When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, lipo- becomes lip-, as in lipectomy. The Latin word for fat, adeps, is the source of the combining forms adipo- and adip-, which are used similarly to lipo-.The second meaning of lipo- is “lacking” or “leaving.” It comes from a different Greek root, leípein, meaning “to leave” or “to be lacking.” It is used in a few, rare or obscure literary or scientific terms.