bi-
bi-
1a combining form meaning “twice,” “two,” used in the formation of compound words: bifacial; bifarious.
Compare bin-.
Usage note
All words except biennial referring to periods of time and prefixed by bi-1 are potentially ambiguous. Since bi- can be taken to mean either “twice each” or “every two,” a word like biweekly can be understood as “twice each week” or “every two weeks.” To avoid confusion, it is better to use the prefix semi- to mean “twice each” (semiannual; semimonthly; semiweekly) or the phrase twice a or twice each (twice a month; twice a week; twice each year), and for the other sense to use the phrase every two (every two months; every two weeks; every two years).
All words except biennial referring to periods of time and prefixed by bi-1 are potentially ambiguous. Since bi- can be taken to mean either “twice each” or “every two,” a word like biweekly can be understood as “twice each week” or “every two weeks.” To avoid confusion, it is better to use the prefix semi- to mean “twice each” (semiannual; semimonthly; semiweekly) or the phrase twice a or twice each (twice a month; twice a week; twice each year), and for the other sense to use the phrase every two (every two months; every two weeks; every two years).
00:10
Bi-
is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
bi-
2variant of bio-, especially before a vowel: biopsy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To bi-
Collins
World English Dictionary
| bi- or (sometimes before a vowel) bin-1 | |
| —combining form | |
| 1. | two; having two: bifocal |
| 2. | occurring every two; lasting for two: biennial |
| 3. | on both sides, surfaces, directions, etc: bilateral |
| 4. | occurring twice during: biweekly |
| 5. | a. denoting an organic compound containing two identical cyclic hydrocarbon systems: biphenyl |
| b. (rare in technical usage) indicating an acid salt of a dibasic acid: sodium bicarbonate | |
| c. (not in technical usage) equivalent of di- | |
| [from Latin, from bis | |
| bin- or (sometimes before a vowel) bin-1 | |
| —combining form | |
| [from Latin, from bis | |
| bi-2 | |
| —combining form | |
| a variant of bio- | |
| bio- or (before a vowel) bi- | |
| —combining form | |
| 1. | indicating or involving life or living organisms: biogenesis; biolysis |
| 2. | indicating a human life or career: biography; biopic |
| [from Greek bios life] | |
| bi- or (before a vowel) bi- | |
| —combining form | |
| [from Greek bios life] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
bi-
prefix meaning "two, twice, double," etc., from L. bi-, from Old L. dvi- (cognate of Skt. dvi-, Gk. di-, O.E. twi-), from PIE base *dwo- "two." Nativized from 16c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
bi- 1 or bin-
pref.
Two: bilateral.
Both: binaural.
Both sides, parts, or directions: biconcave.
Containing twice the proportion of a specified chemical element or group necessary for stability: bicarbonate.
Containing two chemical atoms, radicals, or groups: biphenyl.
bi- 2
pref.
Variant of bio-.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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