xanth-

American  

1. variant of xantho- before a vowel.

   xanthoma.

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Usage

What does xanth- mean? Xanth- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “yellow.” It is used in many medical and scientific terms. In some instances, xanth- specifically represents the chemicals xanthine and xanthic acid. Xanth- comes from the Greek xanthós, meaning “yellow.” Xanthan gum is a substance with a variety of applications, including as a food additive. It is a substance exuded by colonies of the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. The name of the genus, Xanthomonas, comes from the Greek xanthós (“yellow”) and monas (“entity”), a reference to the yellow color of the bacteria colonies. Xanth- is a variant of xantho-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use xantho- article.