Standard Lemma guide

ptilo-

prefix · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /(p)tɪləʊ/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /(p)taɪləʊ/
  • UK: /(p)tɪləʊ/
  • UK: /(p)tʌɪləʊ/

1

prefix

Meaning 1

down, feather; also, more loosely, downy, feathery, penniform, plumiform

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • ptilogenesis, ptilolite, ptilopaedic

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Representing the Ancient Greek πτῐ́λον (ptĭ́lon, “feather”, “down”). Compare the English -ptile, the French ptil-, and the New Latin ptilo-.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Latin: ptilo- — down, feather
  • French: ptil- — downy, feathery, penniform, plumiform