vaso-

American  

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

   vasoconstrictor.

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vaso- British  

combining form

1. indicating a blood vessel

   vasodilator

2. indicating the vas deferens

   vasectomy

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Usage

What does vaso- mean? Vaso- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “vessel,” typically referring to blood vessels, such as veins and arteries. It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy. In some instances, such as vasotomy, vaso- specifically refers to the vas deferens, the duct that carries sperm to the penis. Vaso- comes from the Latin vās, meaning “vessel.” The Latin vās is also the source of the word vase, which is, after all, a type of vessel—often for flowers! And the diminutive form of vās is vāsculum, literally “little vessel”; it’s the source of the word vascular, commonly encountered in cardiovascular. Learn more about cardio- at our Words That Use cardio- and Words That Use cardi- articles. What are variants of vaso-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, vaso- becomes vas-, as in vasectomy.

Etymology

Origin of vaso-

< Latin vās vessel + -o-