sclero-

American  

1. a combining form meaning “hard,” used with this meaning, and as a combining form of sclera, in the formation of compound words.

   sclerometer.

---

sclero- British  

combining form

1. indicating hardness

   sclerosis

2. of or relating to the sclera

   sclerotomy

---

Usage

What does sclero- mean? Sclero- is a combining form used like a prefix to mean "hard" or as a form of sclera, the white outer layer of the eyeball. Sclero- is often used in medical and scientific terms.Sclero- comes from the Greek sklērós, meaning “hard.” The Greek sklērós also helps form the Greek word sklḗrōsis, literally meaning “hardening” and source of the English word sclerosis. You may have encountered sclerosis in the word atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries.What are variants of sclero-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, sclero- becomes scler-, as in sclerema.

Etymology

Origin of sclero-

Combining form of Greek sklērós hard