rhodo-

American  

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

   rhodolite.

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rhodo- British  

combining form

1. rose or rose-coloured

   rhododendron

   rhodolite

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Usage

What does rhodo- mean? Rhodo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “rose” or “rose-colored,” i.e., “pink” or “red.” It is used in some medical and scientific terms, including in biology and geology. Rhodo- comes from the Greek rhódon meaning “rose.” If this Greek root sounds familiar, it might be because it helps form the word rhododendron, a kind of shrub with pink and other colored flowers. Rhododendron literally translates to "rose tree" in Greek. And while its ultimate origin is unclear, some scholars have connected the name of the Greek island of Rhodes, whose ancient harbor was home to the wondrous bronze statue known as the Colossus of Rhodes, to the Greek rhódon, “rose.”What are variants of rhodo-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, rhodo- becomes rhod-, as in rhodamine.

Etymology

Origin of rhodo-

< Greek, combining form of rhódon rose ¹