See Also: Meso-(medicine)
meso-(dictionary)
meso compound(medicine)
meso compounds(medicine)
meso-cystine(medicine)
meso-inositol(medicine)
meso-ontomorph(medicine)
Meso-American(dictionary)
meso-tartrate dehydrogenase(medicine)

meso- (iou)



meso- combining form. In sense 1, before a vowel also mes-. In sense 2 also as attrib. adjective meso.
[from Greek mesos middle (in some anat. terms extracted from MESENTERY): see -O-.]
1. Forming chiefly scientific terms, with the sense 'middle, intermediate'.
2. Chemistry. (As prefix usu. italicized.) Designating an isomer which has one or more pairs of enantiomorphic structural units so arranged that the molecule as a whole is optically inactive.
meso-a'ppendix noun (Anatomy) the mesentery of the appendix L19.
mesoblast noun (Embryology) the mesoderm, esp. in the earliest stages M19.
meso'blastic adjective (Embryology) of or pertaining to the mesoblast L19.
mesocarp noun (Botany) the middle layer of the pericarp of a fruit, between the endocarp and the exocarp M19.
mesocolic noun (Petrography) the most recently formed interstitial substance in an igneous rock L19.
meso'sternal adjective (Entomology & Anatomy) of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a mesosternum E19.
meso'sternum noun, pl. -na, -nums (a) Entomology the sternum of the mesothorax of an insect; (b) Anatomy the part of the breast-bone between the manubrium and the xiphisternum: E19.
mesosuchian Palaeontology (a) adjective of, pertaining to, or designating the extinct suborder Mesosuchia of Jurassic and Cretaceous crocodiles; (b) noun a crocodile of this suborder: L19.
mesotherm noun (Botany) a plant requiring a moderate temperature L19.
meso'thermal adjective (Petrography) of, pertaining to, or designating mineral and ore deposits formed by hydrothermal action at intermediate temperature and pressure E20.
meso'thermic adjective (Botany) of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a mesotherm E20.
mesotho'racic adjective (Entomology) of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a mesothorax M19.
meso'thorax noun (Entomology) the middle segment of the thorax of an insect E19.
meso'tonic adjective (Music) designating or pertaining to the mean tone M19.
meso'varium noun (Anatomy) a peritoneal fold above the mesometrium which supports the ovaries L19.