phyll-

¹

1. variant of phyllo- before a vowel:

   phyllite.

-phyll

²

1. variant of -phyllo as final element of compound words:

   sporophyll.

-phyll

combining form

1. leaf

   chlorophyll

Word History and Origins

Origin of phyll-¹

from Greek phullon

Example Sentences

You know, Phyll, she said with a laugh, you arent at all soft to land on.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use phyll-

What does phyll- mean?

Phyll– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “leaf.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

Phyll– comes from Greek phýllon, meaning “leaf.” The Latin cognate of phýllon is folium, also meaning “leaf,” which is the source of words such as foil, foliage, and folio. To learn more, check out our entries for these three terms.

What are variants of phyll-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a consonant, phyll– becomes phyllo–, as in phyllophore.

When combined as a suffix at the end of the word, this combining form becomes –phyll or –phyl, as in chlorophyll. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on phyllo-, –phyll, and –phyl.

Examples of phyll-

A scientific term that uses the form phyll– is phyllite, “a slaty rock, the cleavage planes of which have a luster imparted by minute scales of mica.”

Phyll– means “leaf,” and the –ite suffix has a variety of meanings, including in the naming of minerals. Phyllite literally means “leaf mineral.”

What are some words that use the equivalent of the combining form phyll– in Greek?

• phyllary
• phyllode
• phyllody
• phyllome

What are some other forms that phyll– may be commonly confused with?

• philo-
• phyl-
• phylo-

Break it down!

The suffix –oid means “resembling” or “like.” With this in mind, what does phylloid mean?