pheno-

a combining form meaning “shining,” “appearing, seeming,” used in the formation of compound words: phenocryst.

a combining form used in the names of chemical compounds that contain phenol or the phenyl group, are related to aromatic compounds, or derive from benzene: phenobarbital.

Nearby words

phenic acid, phenicia, phenix, phenix city, phenmetrazine, pheno-, phenobarbital, phenobarbitone, phenocopy, phenocryst, phenodeviant

Also especially before a vowel, phen-.

Origin of pheno-

< New Latin phaeno- < Greek phaino- shining, combining form of phaínein to shine, appear; in chemical senses, used orig. with reference to products from the manufacture of illuminating gas

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for pheno-

pheno-

before a vowel phen-

combining form

showing or manifestingphenotype

indicating that a molecule contains benzene ringsphenobarbital

Word Origin for pheno-

from Greek phaino- shining, from phainein to show; its use in a chemical sense is exemplified in phenol, so called because originally prepared from illuminating gas

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 pheno-

pheno-

pref.

Showing; displaying:phenotype.

Relating to or derived from benzene:phenol.

Containing phenyl:phenothiazine.