rhino

Rhino- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “nose.” It is often used in medical terms.

Rhino- comes from the Greek rhī́s, meaning “nose.”

What are variants of rhino-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, rhino- becomes rhin-, as in rhinal.

You’ve likely heard of the rhinoceros, the wonderful but incredibly endangered pachyderm.

But do you know why it’s called a rhinoceros? Because of its distinctive horn (or horns) on its snout! Rhinoceros comes from the Greek rhīnókerōs, with rhīno- meaning “nose” and -kerōs meaning “horned.” So, rhinoceros literally translates to “nose-horned.”

Looking for a fancy word for a runny nose? Try rhinorrhea, “an excessive discharge of mucus from the nose.”

What are some words that use the combining form rhino-?

• rhinocele
• rhinocleisis
• rhinodynia
• rhinogenous
• rhinokyphosis
• rhinolalia
• rhinology
• rhinomycosis
• rhinonecrosis
• rhinopathy
• rhinopharyngitis
• rhinoscopy
• rhinotomy

What are some other forms that rhino- may be commonly confused with?

• rhizo-
• rheo-
• ribo-

The combining form -plasty is often used to mean “plastic surgery.” If rhino- means “nose,” what is rhinoplasty?