What Is the Meaning of the Root Word Top
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- Words That Use Topo-
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a combining form meaning "place," "local," used in the formation of compound words: topography; topology.
QUIZ
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Also especially before a vowel, top-.
Origin of topo-
Combining form of Greek tópos place, commonplace
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
WORDS THAT USE TOPO-
What does topo- mean?
Topo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning "place" or "local." It is often used in scientific and other technical terms.
Topo- comes from the Greek tópos, meaning "place" or "commonplace." Commonplace? Yep, discover why at our entry here. The word topic also ultimately comes from the Greek tópos.
What are variants of topo- ?
When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, topo- becomes top-, as in topalgia.
Examples of topo-
One term you may have encountered that uses topo- is topology, a branch of mathematics that concerns the properties of geometric forms that aren't affected by bending, stretching, and other such transformations.
The first part of the word, topo-, means "place." What about -logy? The second part, -logy, comes from the Greek lógos, meaning "word" and is widely used in English to indicate an area of study. Topology literally means "place study" (think spatial relations).
You have probably heard of a topographical map, which provides a detailed picture of the physical features of an area, such as a city. Topography ultimately comes from the Greek topographía, featuring the Greek forms of topo- and -graphy and literally meaning "place drawing."
What are some words that use the combining form topo- ?
- topochemistry
- topolect
- toponarcosis
- topotype
What are some other forms that topo- may be commonly confused with?
- tropho-
- tropo-
- typo-
Break it down!
Chemistry is the study of the composition and properties of substances and matter.
Based on the meaning of topo-, can you guess what topochemistry specifically studies?
How to use topo- in a sentence
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Take a look at El Topo and The Holy Mountain and you might wonder.
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One of its branches, the Topo, is one continued rapid; "of those who have fallen into it, only one has come out alive."
British Dictionary definitions for topo- (1 of 2)
noun plural topos
mountaineering a picture of a mountain with details of climbing routes superimposed on it
Word Origin for topo
C20: shortened from topographical picture
British Dictionary definitions for topo- (2 of 2)
combining form
indicating place or region topography; topology; toponym; topotype
Word Origin for topo-
from Greek topos a place, commonplace
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for topo-
pref.
Place; area: topoanesthesia.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
What Is the Meaning of the Root Word Top
Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/topo-#:~:text=a%20combining%20form%20meaning%20%E2%80%9Cplace,before%20a%20vowel%2C%20top%2D.