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What does xero- mean in medical terms?
xero-
Meaning: dry
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what xero- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using xero-
xeroderma
xero- (dry) + derma (skin) = abnormal dryness of the skin
xero- (dry) + derma (skin) = abnormal dryness of the skin
xerostomia
xero- (dry) + stom (mouth) + ia (condition) = dryness of the mouth
xero- (dry) + stom (mouth) + ia (condition) = dryness of the mouth
xerophthalmia
xero- (dry) + ophthalm (eye) + ia (condition) = abnormal dryness of the eyes
xero- (dry) + ophthalm (eye) + ia (condition) = abnormal dryness of the eyes
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.