Today in IM class we talked about three prefixes: uni-, bi- and tri-.
We talked about uni- already. Uni- usually means “one” or “all,” sort of like “everything is one.”
This prefix is used a lot in English, and also in names. Universal Studios is a good example. “Universal” comes from “universe,” which means everything that exists. The -al suffix makes it an adjective. So “universal studios” makes movies about everything!
Bi- means two. It can also appear as di- and du-. It usually means “two,” but remember that just because a word starts with “di” doesn’t mean the prefix means “two.” “Disappointing,” for example, starts with “di,” but the prefix is actually “dis-” and means something very different.
Tri- means three. There are a lot of words that use tri-, and you probably know a lot of them.
Here are some of the words we used in class today, and very brief definitions.
bi-
- bicycle – You know what a bicycle is.
- bipolar – Something have a high and a low point, like a planet or a personality.
- biathlete – Someone who participates in two sports.
- bicameral – Having two houses, as in politics. Here “camera” goes back to an old word that has to do with houses.
- bifocals – Glasses with two different lenses for each eye. Usually for reading.
- biannual, biennial – Used for periods of time that work in twos.
- bigamy – Having two wives (or two husbands), usually at the same time.
- biplane – The old-fashioned airplane with two wings, one on top of the other.
- bisect – To cut something into two.
- dialogue – Two people talking.
- diameter – A line that cuts a circle into two equal parts.
- diametric – On opposite sides, like in an argument.
- duplicate – To make a copy (a second one).
- duplex – Anything that comes as two, like some houses.
- duo – A pair.
tri-
- triple play – Three outs in one play, in baseball.
- triply – Three times as much.
- trio – Three people, like in a musical band.
- triplicate – Three copies.
- tritheism – A religion that has three gods.
- triceratops – A dinosaur with three horns.
- trimonthly, triweekly – Periods of time that come in threes.
- triangle – A shape with three sides.
- tripod – A stand for a camera that has three legs.
- triplex – Anything that comes in threes, like duplex.
- triumvirate – A group of three rulers, working as one.
- trilingual – Speaking three languages.
Here’s the picture of the whiteboard, so you can look at it again.
See you!
