Greek Combining Forms in Science Words

Decode science terms built from Greek forms like photo, hydro, therm, and synthesis.

Science vocabulary is packed with Greek combining forms, word parts that join with others to form technical terms. 'Photo' means light. 'Hydro' means water. 'Therm' means heat. 'Synthesis' means putting together. Put two together and you get 'photosynthesis', putting things together using light, which is how plants use sunlight to build sugar from water and carbon dioxide. Hydroelectric power is electricity made from moving water. A thermostat keeps heat steady (stat means standing or stopped).

Dehydration is the loss of water. The method is to find each part, translate it, and then let the science context sharpen the meaning. Try 'hydrothermal vent', a phrase you might see in an ocean article. Hydro (water) + therm (heat): a crack in the sea floor that releases heated water. You may not know the exact chemistry yet, but you know what you are reading about before the article explains it.

• 1PHOTO means light; HYDRO means water; THERM means heat.
• 2SYNTHESIS means putting together.
• 3Translate each form, then let the science context refine the meaning.