android
UK[ˈændrɔɪd]US[ˈænˌdrɔɪd]
n
A robot or artificial being designed to look and act like a human.
n
(trademark) An operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Morpheme Breakdown
andr
oid
andr
man
oid
resembling
Etymology
The word "android" is a modern construction from Greek components, entering English in the 18th century. It literally means "resembling a man," built from the Greek root andr- (man) and the suffix -oid (like, form). The Greek anēr (genitive andros) traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root ner- meaning "man," which also gives us words like "androgen." Initially used in early science fiction and automaton descriptions, the term's meaning solidified to specify humanoid robots. Its contemporary prominence is largely due to its adoption as the name for a popular mobile operating system, metaphorically extending the concept of a smart, adaptable human-like entity.
Analysis
Structure: andr (man) + oid (resembling)
andr: From Greek andr- (stem of anēr), meaning "man, male". It functions as the core root denoting humanity, specifically male humanity.
oid: From Greek -oeidēs, meaning "having the form of, resembling". It functions as a suffix that indicates likeness or resemblance.
Examples
The science fiction movie featured an android that was nearly indistinguishable from a real person.
Developers are creating new applications for the Android platform.
His research focuses on the ethical treatment of highly advanced androids.