monoxide
UK[mɒˈnɒksaɪd]US[məˈnɑːksaɪd]
n
An oxide containing one atom of oxygen in its molecule.
Morpheme Breakdown
mon
oxide
mon
one
oxide
compound of oxygen
Etymology
The word 'monoxide' is a modern scientific compound formed in the 19th century. Its first element, 'mon-', derives from the ancient Greek 'monos', meaning 'single' or 'alone', a concept traceable to the Proto-Indo-European root men- meaning small or isolated. The second element, 'oxide', originates from the French term for a compound of oxygen, which itself is based on 'oxygen', a word coined from Greek roots meaning 'acid-former'. Therefore, 'monoxide' logically and literally describes a chemical oxide with a single atom of oxygen per molecule, as distinguished from a 'dioxide'.
Analysis
Structure: mon (one) + oxide (compound of oxygen)
- mon: From Greek 'monos', meaning single, alone, or one. It functions as a numerical prefix in the word.
- oxide: From French 'oxide', itself from 'oxy(gène)' (oxygen) + '(ac)ide' (acid). It functions as the base, denoting a compound of oxygen.
Examples
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion.
The mechanic detected high levels of monoxide in the car's exhaust.
Hemoglobin has a much higher affinity for carbon monoxide than for oxygen.