-tropy

American  

1. a combining form occurring in abstract nouns that correspond to adjectives ending in -tropic or -tropous:

   neurotropy.

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Usage

What does -tropy mean? The combining form -tropy is used like a suffix to form abstract nouns corresponding to adjectives ending in -tropic and -tropous, such as how neurotropy is the quality of being neurotropic. These endings variously denote “turning, changing, reacting, responding.” Learn more about -tropic and -tropous at our Words That Use articles for the forms. The form -tropy ultimately comes from the Greek trópos, “turn," and tropḗ, "a turning." The Greek trópos is also the source of the words trope and tropical. It’s your turn to make the connection between “turning,” figures of speech, and the tropics at our entries for the words. What are variants of -tropy?In some instances, -tropism is used as a variant of -tropy, as in hydrotropism. Corresponding forms of -tropy combined to the beginning of words are tropo- and trop-, which you learn more about at our Words That Use articles for the forms.

Etymology

Origin of -tropy

< Greek -tropia. See -trope, -y ³