ortho-
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ortho-
- /ɔː.θə-/ UK
- /ɔːˈθɒ-/ UK
- /oɹ.θə-/ US
- /oɹˈθɑ-/ US
prefix orth-
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Right angle, perpendicular.
In this sense, it is the angle that is "right" or straight rather than the line; orthogon is a right-angle triangle, orthocentric is a tetrahedron where all three pairs of opposite edges are perpendicular, orthoclastic is a crystal whose cleavage planes are at right angles.
Similar: cross-
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Proper, righteous, pure.
E.g., orthorexia is an unhealthy fixation with healthy or righteous eating, an orthotaxon is a true taxon based biological relationships rather than form, orthology is speech which is proper, orthoquartzite is very pure quartz sandstone.
Similar: eu-
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To correct or fix.
E.g., orthophotography is the geometrical correction of aerial photographs, orthoptics is the treatment of muscular irregularities of the eye, orthodontics is the correcting of misaligned teeth.
Similar: fix-
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Same, from the same.
E.g., An orthocousin, unlike a cross-cousin, is on the same side of the family; orthogamy is when a plant's ovules are fertilized by pollen from the same plant; orthochronous is a transformation which preserves the direction of time.
Similar: ipsi-
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Normal, ordinary.
E.g., orthocclusion is normal occlusion, orthodromic is when neurological impulses are passed in the normal direction, orthogravitropism is the ordinary effect of gravity on plants
Similar: normo-
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Straight in form.
E.g., orthoconic is a mollusc shell that is straight rather than spiraled, orthodentin is dentin composed of straight tubes, orthognathous is straight-jawed. .
Similar: recti-
- Orthorhombic crystal structure. E.g., orthochrysotile is an orthorhombic chrysotile, orthopyroxene is a pyroxene that forms orthorhombic crystals, orthohexagonal is having orthorhombic hexagonal symmetry.
- In isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in adjacent (1,2) positions (compare meta- and para-). E.g., orthophenylene, orthosubstitution, orthocleavage.
- Having an extra proportion of water. E.g., orthophosphate, orthosilicate, orthoferrite.
- Independent, separate. E.g., orthogonal as in statistically independent, orthopair is a pair of disjoint subsets, orthogonal in the sense of two aspects of a software problem are able to be treated separately.
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Original, primary.
E.g., orthonasal is the first direction from which olfaction happens; orthosteric is the original and unmodulated binding site; orthotone is when a speaker retains the accent.
Similar: proto-
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Parallel lines or columns.
E.g., orthostyle is a series of columns in architecture, an ortholinear keyboard has the keys aligned in straight columns, an orthographic projection has its rays parallel.
Similar: para-
- Of any molecule of the form X₂ in which the two nuclei have parallel spin. E.g., orthopositronium, orthohelium, orthoquarkonium.
- Orthopaedics. E.g., orthogeriatrics is the combination of orthopaedics and geriatrics, orthosurgeon is an orthopaedic surgeon, orthoroentgenography is orthopedic roentgenography.
- Vertical or upright in movement. E.g., orthotropic is to grow vertically (up or down), orthostasis describes the state of the human body in a standing position, orthograde is walking or standing in that position.
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Igneous.
E.g., orthogneiss is a gneiss derived from igneous, rather than sedimentary (paragneiss); orthoamphibolite, orthocumulate.
Similar: igneo-
Talk about this word "ortho-." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/ortho-. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. ortho-. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/ortho- "ortho-." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/ortho-.Cite this
@misc{ortho_2026,
title = {ortho-},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/ortho-},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}