 2 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
proto
adjective: indicating the first or earliest or original; "'proto' is a
combining form in a word like 'protolanguage' that
refers to the hypothetical ancestor of another language
or group of languages" [syn: {proto(a)}]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Proto- \Pro"to-\ [Gr. prw^tos first, a superl. fr. pro' before.
See {Pro-}.]
1. A combining form prefix signifying first, primary,
primordial; as, protomartyr, the first martyr;
protomorphic, primitive in form; protoplast, a primordial
organism; prototype, protozoan.
2. (Chem.)
(a) Denoting the first or lowest of a series, or the one
having the smallest amount of the element to the name
of which it is prefixed; as protoxide, protochloride,
etc.
(b) Sometimes used as equivalent to mono-, as indicating
that the compound has but one atom of the element to
the name of which it is prefixed. Also used
adjectively.
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