Word origins

• chromothripsisA multiple of chromosomal rearrangements that is associated with some cancers.
• chromphylliteA monoclinic-prismatic emerald green mineral containing aluminum, barium, chromium, fluorine, hydrogen, oxygen, potassium, and silicon.
• chromuleAny colouring matter in plants other than chlorophyll.
• chronaxieThe minimum time over which an electric current must be applied in order to stimulate a muscle fiber or nerve cell.
• chronemeA basic, theoretical unit of sound that can distinguish words by duration only of a vowel or consonant.
• chrono-time
• chronoclasmThe intentional destruction of clocks and other time artifacts
• chronogramA sentence or inscription whose letters, when interpreted according to a system (such as Roman numerals) in which letters correspond to numeric values, stand for a particular date (usually the date of inscription) when rearranged.
• chronographiaVivid representation of a certain historical or recurring time (such as a season) to create an illusion of reality.
• chronomentrophobiaThe fear of timepieces.
• chronometricOf or related to chronometers, clocks and other timekeeping devices.
• chronometricsSynonym of horology: the study of time measurement.
• chronometrySynonym of horology: the study of time, particularly the science, art, and technology of time measurement.
• chronophobiaFear of the passing of time, or more generally of time itself.
• chronosomeA sedimentary rock unit defined by planes of simultaneous deposition.
• -chronousRelating to time.
• ChrysaorA son of Poseidon and Medusa and brother of the winged horse Pegasus, often depicted as a young man, who sprang along with Pegasus from the blood of the decapitated Medusa.
• chryselephantineMade of gold and ivory.
• chryso-gold (metal or colour); yellow
• chrysochloreThe golden mole.
• chrysoidineA yellow-orange crystalline dye, C₆H₅N₂.C₆H₃(NH₂)₂.
• chrysophyteAny golden alga of the class Chrysophyceae
• chrysopoeiaTransmutation into gold.
• chrysospermThe seed of gold; an alchemical means of creating gold.
• chrysostomaticEloquent.
• chthamaloidAny member of the Chthamaloidea superfamily of barnacles.
• chthonianPertaining to the underworld; being beneath the earth.
• chylo-Pertaining to chyle.
• chylopoeticInvolved in the formation of chyle; chyle-producing.
• chyometerAn instrument for measuring the specific gravity of liquids, consisting of a tube with a piston inside.
• chytraAn Ancient Greek earthenware cooking pot
• chytridAny fungus of the phylum Chytridiomycota.
• chytridiomycosisAn infectious disease of amphibians caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (amphibian chytrid fungus) or (chiefly in salamanders and newts) by Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans.
• cine-film, movie, cinema (moving pictures).
• cirsoidvaricose
• cissoidAny of a family of curves defined as the locus of a point, P, on a line from a given fixed point and intersecting two given curves, C₁ and C₂, where the distance along the line from C₁ to P remains constant and equal to the distance from P to C₂.
• clado-clade; branches of organisms
• cladusA branch of a ramose spicule, which collectively form the cladome.
• -clasefracture (having a fracture of such a form)
• -clasisFragmentation, breaking
• clasmatocyteSynonym of macrophage.
• -clastSomething that breaks or destroys.
• clastogenAny agent that causes breaks in chromosomes.
• clastogenesisThe process resulting in additions, deletions, or rearrangements of parts of the chromosomes that are detectable by light microscopy.
• clastosomeA part of the nucleus of a cell that contains proteasomes
• cledonismDivination through the interpretation of words (written or spoken) encountered by chance.
• cledonomancyDivination through interpreting chance remarks or events.
• cledonomanticOf or pertaining to cledonomancy.
• -cleisisClosure, blockage, shutting.
• cleistocarpSynonym of cleistothecium.
• cleistogamousPertaining to cleistogamy.
• cleistogamyThe production of flowers which do not open and are self-fertilized in the bud.
• cleistotheciumA closed ascocarp, in some fungi, from which spores are released following decay or disintegration
• cleithrumA large bone in fishes, which extends upward from the base of the pectoral fin and anchors to the cranium above the gills, forming the posterior edge of the gill chamber.
• CleopasA male given name.
• cleromancyDivination by casting lots (sortilege).
• cleronomyinheritance, heritage
• cleruchicOf or relating to cleruchy.
• cleruchyA form of Athenian colony in the time of Ancient Greece, under which the settlers or cleruchs retained their citizenship, and were assigned plots, or kleroi, of agricultural land, while the community remained a political dependency of Athens.
• climacophobiaThe fear of staircases or of falling down stairs.
• climacteriumThe bodily and mental changes linked to the reproductive and endocrine function in men and women occurring during the latter part of middle age.
• -clinalhaving a specified slope
• cliniumclinanthium
• clino-slope or angle
• clinohedriteA monoclinic-domatic mineral that is a mixed silicate of calcium and zinc
• ClitusA male given name from Ancient Greek.
• clothoidA plane curve whose curvature at any point is proportional to distance along it.
• cloud-cuckoo-landAn imaginary place where silly or unrealistic people metaphorically reside.
• ClymeneA nymph married to Iapetus, mother of Prometheus, Epimetheus, Menoetius and Atlas.
• clysisThe infusion of a fluid, either as therapy or to cleanse.
• clysmicIn the direction of or pertaining to the Gulf of Suez.
• cnem-Skin, calve.
• cnemeTibia; shin.
• cnemialRelating to, or located at, the shinbone, or tibia.
• cnemidA greave: a bronze shin protector worn in combat by Ancient Greek warriors.
• cnemid-Skin, calve.
• cnemido-Skin, calve.
• cnidaA nematocyst.
• coccobacteriumOne of various round variety of bacteria.
• coccoliteThe mineral diopside.
• coccolithA microscopic skeletal plate of calcite on the surface of certain marine phytoplankton; it forms chalk and limestone when fossilized
• coccolithophoreAny of many minute mostly marine planktonic biflagellated organisms with brown chromatophores and complex calcareous, less commonly siliceous, shells.
• coccosphereA small rounded marine organism, capable of breaking up into coccoliths.
• codeiaSynonym of codeine.
• CodrusThe last of the semi-mythical kings of Athens (r. ca 1089–1068 BC), an ancient exemplar of patriotism and self-sacrifice.
• -coelA cavity.
• coelanaglyphicIn the form of cavo-rilievo (“sculpture in relief within a sinking made for the purpose, so no part of it projects beyond the surrounding surface”).
• cœliaCavity of an abdomen.
• coelo-hollow; cavity; as
• -coeloushollowed out, relating to concavity
• coen-common
• coenesthesiopathyCenesthopathy
• coenoclineA gradient of organisms (typically plants) from the base to the summit of a hill or mountain
• coenocyteA cell with multiple nuclei, found in fungi, algae, protists and slime molds.
• coenosarcA living body (structure, such as a tube or mesoglea) that is held in common by many organisms included in a composite zoophyte (such as the polyps of a coral, or the zooids of a hydroid), by which they are in connection with each other.
• coenurethe larva of Taenia coenurus, the canine tapeworm - causes staggers in sheep
• CoeusThe Titan of intelligence; the father of Leto and Asteria.
• ColchianOf or relating to Colchis.
• collenchymaA living, elongated, mechanical and flexible ground tissue with angular pectin depositions; present just under leaves, tendrils and stems of climbers; formed before vascular differentiation.
• colloblastA kind of cell found in the tentacles of ctenophores, used to capture prey by adhesion.