Prefixes and Their Meanings

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tele

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A prefix meaning 'distant' or 'far', used in words like 'telephone' (distant sound) and 'television' (distant sight).

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graph

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A prefix meaning 'write', used in words like 'autograph' (self-write) and 'graphic' (related to writing or drawing).

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micro

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A prefix meaning 'small' or 'minute', used in words like 'microscope' (an instrument to see small things) and 'microorganism' (small living organism).

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tract

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A prefix meaning 'pull', used in words like 'attract' (to pull towards) and 'detract' (to pull away from).

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photo

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A prefix meaning 'light', used in words like 'photograph' (light drawing) and 'photosynthesis' (light putting together).

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de

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A prefix meaning 'down' or 'away', used in words like 'decrease' (to make smaller) and 'dehydrate' (to remove water).

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bio

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A prefix meaning 'life', used in words like 'biology' (study of life) and 'biography' (life story).

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geo

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A prefix meaning 'earth', used in words like 'geography' (study of the earth) and 'geology' (study of earth's structure).

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mis

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A prefix meaning 'wrong' or 'bad', used in words like 'misunderstand' (to understand wrongly) and 'misplace' (to place wrongly).

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sub

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A prefix meaning 'under' or 'below', used in words like 'submarine' (underwater vessel) and 'substandard' (below standard).