IXL | Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots

The word binary contains the root bi. What does the root bi mean?

two

four

star

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Learn with an example

question

The word retract contains the root tract. What does the root tract mean?

pull or drag

bend or curve

far away

key idea

A root is a part of a word that has a certain meaning. Words that share the same root often have similar meanings that are related to the meaning of the root. For example:

The root phon means sound.

A xylophone is a musical instrument with wooden bars that are hit by small hammers.

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings.

A telephone is a machine that can carry the sound of someone's voice over a long distance.

All of these meanings relate to the concept of sound.

You can use your knowledge of roots to figure out the meaning of words you haven't seen before. For example:

The root cyclo means circle or wheel.

The root meter means measure.

A cyclometer is a device that measures how many times a wheel turns.

solution

The word retract, like the word tractor, contains the root tract. These words both have to do with pulling or moving something. This tells you that the root tract means pull or drag.

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

Z.3Use the meanings of words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots

FF.2Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots

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