variants or before a vowel myel-
: bone marrow : spinal cord
myelocyte
myelencephalon

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek, combining form of myelós "bone marrow," perhaps from my- (base of mûs "mouse, muscle," myṓn "cluster of muscles") + -elos, suffix with various applications, seen also in pimelḗ "soft fat, lard" — more at mouse entry 1

Note: Marrow, like muscle, is soft tissue, and both contrast with bone. For the suffix, compare also the derivational relationship of ankṓn "bend of the arm, elbow," ankálē "bent arm."

Dictionary Entries Near myelo-

Cite this Entry

“Myelo-.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myelo-. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!