oxy-

oxy-

(word root) sharp, keen, acid

Examples of words with the root oxy-: oxygen, oxymoron

oxy-

pref.

Oxygen, especially additional oxygen: oxyacetylene.

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[From oxygen.]

oxy-

combining form

(Elements & Compounds) denoting something sharp; acute: oxytone.

[from Greek, from oxus]

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oxy-

combining form

1. containing or using oxygen: oxyacetylene.

2. a former equivalent of hydroxy-

oxy-¹

,

a combining form meaning “sharp,” “acute,” “keen,” “pointed,” “acid”: oxygen; oxymoron.

[< Greek, comb. form of oxýs sharp, keen]

oxy-²

,

a combining form representing oxygen in compound words, sometimes as an equivalent of hydroxy-: oxyhemoglobin.