-ploid

American  

1. a combining form meaning “having chromosome sets” of the kind or number specified by the initial element.

   hexaploid.

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-ploid British  

combining form

1. indicating a specific multiple of a single set of chromosomes

   diploid

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Usage

What does -ploid mean? The combining form -ploid is used like a suffix meaning “having chromosome sets.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.The form -ploid is extracted from the endings of words such as haploid, which means "pertaining to a single set of chromosomes." The word haploid itself comes from the combination of two forms: hapl-, meaning "single", and -oid, meaning "resembling" or "like."

Other Word Forms

• -ploidy combining form

Etymology

Origin of -ploid

Extracted from haploid, diploid, etc.