pneumato-

American  

especially before a vowel, pneumat-

1. a combining form meaning “air,” “breath,” “spirit,” used in the formation of compound words.

   pneumatology; pneumatophore.

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pneumato- British  

combining form

1. air; breath or breathing; spirit

   pneumatophore

   pneumatology

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Usage

What does pneumato- mean? Pneumato- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “air,” "breath," "spirit." It is often used in medical and scientific terms, including in pathology. Pneumato- comes from the Greek pneûma, meaning "wind," "breath," or "spirit." Pneûma is also the origin of the adjective pneumatic, as in pneumatic tires. What are variants of pneumato-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, pneumato- becomes pneumat-, as in pneumatosis. The combining form pneumo- is also used as a variant of pneumato-, as in pneumograph. The Greek pneûma is also closely related to the combining form -pnea. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use -pnea article.

Etymology

Origin of pneumato-

< Greek, combining form of pneûma; see pneuma