thorac-

American  

1. variant of thoraco- before a vowel.

   thoracic.

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Usage

What does thorac- mean? Thorac- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “thorax.” The thorax is the part of the body between the neck and the abdomen—in other words, the chest. In insects, the thorax is the area between the head and the abdomen. It is occasionally used in medical terms. Thorac- ultimately comes from Greek thṓrāx, meaning “breastplate.” One Latin word with a similar meaning was pectus, meaning “chest” or “breast,” which is the source of expectorate, parapet, and pectoral. Learn what these words have to do with the chest by checking out each of the three entries. What are variants of thorac-?Thorac- is a variant of thoraco-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on thoraco-.