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oxy-

1 American  
  1. a combining form meaning “sharp,” “acute,” “keen,” “pointed,” “acid,” used in the formation of compound words.

    oxycephalic; oxygen; oxymoron.


oxy- 2 American  
  1. a combining form representing oxygen in compound words, sometimes as an equivalent of hydroxy-: oxychloride.


oxy- 1 British  

combining form

  1. containing or using oxygen

    oxyacetylene

  2. a former equivalent of hydroxy-

"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

oxy- 2 British  

combining form

  1. denoting something sharp; acute

    oxytone

"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

Etymology

Origin of oxy-

< Greek, combining form of oxýs sharp, keen, acid

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And the first result in this previously unworked direction, was the sharp distinction between acid, basic, and neutral dyes, and between the corresponding, oxy-, baso-, and neutrophil granulations.

From Histology of the Blood Normal and Pathological by Myers, W.

When pure, quartz is transparent as glass, infusible except in the oxy- hydrogen blow- pipe, and harder than glass.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips

Lactic acid and alanine were shown to be oxy- and amino-propionic acids respectively; glycollic acid and glycocoll, oxy- and amino-acetic acids; salicylic and benzamic acids, oxy- and amino-benzoic acids.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various

The temperature given by this apparatus exceeds that of the familiar oxy- hydrogen blowpipe, because the actual combustible material is carbon instead of hydrogen.

From Acetylene, the Principles of Its Generation and Use A Practical Handbook on the Production, Purification, and Subsequent Treatment of Acetylene for the Development of Light, Heat, and Power by Leeds, F. H. (Frank Henley)

It is considered probable that the cellulose nitrates are hydrocellulose derivatives, and experimental evidence in favour of this conclusion is supplied by the results of 'nitrating' the celluloses and their oxy- and hydro- derivatives.

From Researches on Cellulose 1895-1900 by Cross, C. F.