definitions

peri-

a prefix meaning “about” or “around” (perimeter, periscope), “enclosing” or “surrounding” (pericardium), and “near” (perigee, perihelion), appearing in loanwords from Greek (peripeteia); on this model, used in the formation of compound words (perimorph).

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English Affixes From A To Z: A One-Stop List Of Suffixes, Prefixes, and Combining FormsIn English, we love to make new words by adding all sorts of bits to the front and back of existing terms. These are called affixes, and they are added to the base or stem of a word. When attached to the end of word, the affix is called a suffix. And to the beginning? A prefix.
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Nearby words

perh., perhaps, perhydrogenate, perhydrogenize, peri, peri-, peri-infarction block, periadenitis, periadenitis mucosa necrotica recurrens, periander, periangiitis

Origin of peri-

< Greek, prefixal use of perí (adv. and preposition)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for peri-

peri-

prefix

enclosing, encircling, or aroundpericardium; pericarp; perigon
near or adjacentperihelion

Word Origin for peri-

from Greek peri around, near, about
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

Medicine definitions for peri-

peri-

pref.

Around; about; enclosing:perimysium.
Near:perinatal.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for peri-

peri-

A prefix that means: “around” (as in pericardium,) or “near” (as in perihelion).
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.