Greek and Latin roots in English_B

Root Meaning in English Origin language Etymology (root origin) English examples
bac- rod-shaped Latin baculum baculiform, baculum
bal-, bol- throw Greek ballein ball, ballista, ballistic, devil, diabolic, hyperbole, metabolism, parable, problem, symbol
bar- weight, pressure Greek βάρος (baros) barograph, barometer, barostat
basi-, bas-, basio-, basir-, baso- at the bottom Greek βάσις (basis) "step", from βαίνω (bainō), "I walk, march" base, basic, basis, basicranial, basioglossal, basirrhinal, basommatophoric, basolateral, debase
bathy-, batho- deep, depth Greek βαθύς (bathús, bathýs) batholith, bathymetry, bathyscaphe, bathysphere
be-, beat- bless Latin beare, beatus beatification
bell-, belli- war Latin bellum, belli antebellum, bellicose, belligerent, rebellion
ben- good, well Latin bene (adverb) beneficence, benefit, benevolent, benign, benignant, benignity
bi-, bin-, bis- two Latin bis, "twice"; bini, "in twos" bicycle, biennial, bifocal, bigamy, binary, binoculars, biscotti
bib- drink Latin bibere, bibitus bib, beer, beverage, imbibe
bibl- book Greek βιβλίον (biblíon) "book" bible, bibliography
bio-, bi- life Greek βίος (bíos) "life" biodiversity, biography, biohazard, biology, biome, biometric, biosphere
blenn-, blenno-, blennor- slime Greek βλέννος (blennos) blennadenitis, blennophobia, blennosperma, blennorrhagia
blast-, blasto- germ, embryo, bud, cell with nucleus Greek βλασταίνω (blastainō), "I put forth shoots" blastula, fibroblast, osteoblast, sideroblast, blastocardia, blastochyle
bon- good Latin bonus bonify, bonitary
bore- north Latin from Greek borealis "northern" from Βορέας (Boreas) "the north wind" borealis
botan- plant Greek βοτάνη, βότανον (botanē, botanon) botanic, botanist, botanology, botany
bov-, bu- cow, ox Latin bos (genitive bovis) "ox, cow" beef, boor, bovine, bucinator muscle
brachi-, brachio- arm Latin bracchium brachiferous, brachial artery, brachiocubital
brachi-, brachio-, brachion-, brachioni-, brachior- arm Greek βραχίων (brakhíōn) brachialgia, brachionerysipelas, brachionigraph, brachiorrhachidian, brachiosaurus
brachy- short Greek βραχύς (brakhús, brakhýs) brachycephaly, brachydactyly
brady-, bradys- slow Greek βραδύς (bradús, bradýs) bradycardia, bradysuria
branchi- gill Greek βράγχιον (brágkhion, bránkhion) branchiopod, nudibranch
brev- brief, short (time) Latin brevis, breviare abbreviate, brevextensor, brevicaudate, brevity, brief
bromat-, bromato-, broma-, bromo- food Greek βρῶμα (brōma) bromatium, bromateccrisis, bromatherapy, bromatology, bromography
brom- oats Greek βρόμος, βρόμη (brómos, brómē) "oats" brome, Bromus, Bromus ramosus
brom- stench Greek βρῶμος (brōmos) "stench, clangor" bromate, bromide, bromine
bronch- windpipe Greek βρόγχος (brógkhos, brónkhos) bronchiole, bronchitis, bronchus
bront-, bronto- thunder Greek βροντή (brontē) Brontosaurus, brontology, brontophobia
bucc- cheek, mouth, cavity Latin bucca buccal, buccilingual, buccolingual
bulb- bulbous Latin bulbus bulbiform, bulbiparous, bulboartrial, bulborrhexis, bulbous, bulbule
bull- bubble, flask Latin bullire, bulla bullectomy, bulliferous, ebullient, ebullism
burs- pouch, purse Latin bursa bursa, bursalogy, bursar, bursary, bursectomy, bursiform, de