IXL | Use the meanings of words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots

A microscope is a tool that is used to look at something too small to be seen just with your eyes. What does the root micro mean?

write or draw

carry

small

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question

An autograph is a person's signature written in his or her own handwriting. What does the root auto mean?

light

own or self

sound

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

An autograph is a person's signature written in his or her own handwriting.

The root graph means write or draw. So, the root auto means own or self.

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