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What does dia- mean in medical terms?
dia-
Meaning: through, across, complete
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what dia- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using dia-
diarrhea
dia- (through) + rrhea (flow) = frequent flow of loose stools through the bowel
dia- (through) + rrhea (flow) = frequent flow of loose stools through the bowel
diagnosis
dia- (complete) + gnosis (knowledge) = identification of a disease through complete knowledge of signs and tests
dia- (complete) + gnosis (knowledge) = identification of a disease through complete knowledge of signs and tests
dialysis
dia- (through) + lysis (separation) = separation of substances through a membrane
dia- (through) + lysis (separation) = separation of substances through a membrane
Shortened forms
Charts and notes shorten long terms — see the Medical Abbreviations guide for the short forms you will meet in real records.
Please note: This section teaches the language of medicine — what word parts mean and how terms are built. It is an educational reference, not medical advice. For the meaning of a word in your own medical record, ask the clinician who wrote it.