Biology Prefixes - M

macro- [from Greek makros long, tall, high, large] Large, long, big (macroevolution, macrophage).

mal- [Latin mal bad, evil, wicked; ugly] Bad(ly), evil(ly), poor(ly), abnormal(ly) (malpresentation).

mast- or masto- [from Greek mastos breast, udder] Breast, udder (mastology).

medi- or medio- [from Latin medius middle, middle of, mid, neutral, ordinary] In the middle (mediocarpal).

medull- or medullo- [from Latin medius marrow, innermost part] Denotes marrow (medullitis).

meg- or mega- or megal- or megalo- [from Greek megas, megale big, great, full-grown, vast, high] (1) great, large (megadont, megalocephaly); (2) one million (megamole).

melan- or melano- [from Greek melas, melan- dark, black, murky] Black, dark (melanosome).

mening- [from Greek meninx membrane] Relating to the meninges (meningitis).

mer- or mero- [from Greek meros share, portion, part] Part, partial, segmented (merozoite).

mero- [from Greek meros thigh, femur] Denotes the thigh (merocoxalgia).

mes- or meso- [from Greek mesos middle, in the middle] (1) middle (mesoderm, Mesozoic); (2) mesentery (mesoillium).

met- or meta- or meto- [from Greek meta among, between, after, later, along with] (1) occurring after, succeeding (metagenesis); (2) beyond (metacarpus); (3) behind, posterior (metencephalon); (4) later, more advanced (Metazoa); (5) across (metoxenous).

metall- or metallo- [from Latin metallum metal] Denotes metal(s) (metallophobia).

metop- [from Greek metopon brow, forehead] Forehead (metopodynia).

metr- or metra- or metro- or metry- [from Greek metra uterus] Relating to the uterus, uterine (metritis, metrocarcinoma).

micro- [from Greek mikros small] (1) small; (2) one millionth (microliter).

milli- [from Latin mille thousand] One thousandth (milliliter).

mio- [from Greek meion less] Less, smaller (Miocene).

mon- or mono- [from Greek monos alone, solitary] Single (monathetosis, monobrachial).

morph- or morpho- [from Greek morphe form, shape, kind, sort] Form, shape, type, structure (morphology).

multi- [from Latin multus may] Many (Multiflora).

muscul- or musculo- [from Latin musculus muscle] Pertaining to muscle (musculocutaneous).

my- or myo- [from Greek myon muscle] Of or relating to muscle (myoatrophy, myalgia).

myc- or myco- [from Greek mykes mushroom] Fungus, mushroom (Mycobacterium, mycology, mycosis).

myel- or myelo- [from Greek myelos marrow] (1) of or relating to marrow (myelocyte); (2) relating to the spinal cord (myelodysplasia)

myx- or myxo- [from Greek myxa mucus] Of or relating to mucus or slime (myxobacterium).