necro-

American  

especially before a vowel, necr-.

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

   necrology.

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necro- British  

combining form

1. indicating death, a dead body, or dead tissue

   necrology

   necrophagous

   necrosis

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Usage

What does necro- mean? Necro- is a combining form used like a prefix variously meaning “the dead,” “corpse,” or “dead tissue.” It is used in technical and scientific terms, including in biology and medicine.Necro- comes from the Greek nekrós, meaning “dead person, corpse” or “dead.” Similar in meaning and use to necro- is the common combining form thanato-, from the Greek thánatos, “death.”What are variants of necro-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, necro- becomes necr-, as in necrectomy.

Etymology

Origin of necro-

< Greek nekro-, combining form of nekrós dead person, corpse, (adj.) dead