necro-

a combining form meaning “the dead,” “corpse,” “dead tissue,” used in the formation of compound words:

necrology.

Also, especially before a vowel, necr-.

Origin

< Greek nekro-, combining form of nekrós dead person, corpse, (adj.) dead

British Dictionary definitions for necro-

necro-

combining form

indicating death, a dead body, or dead tissue: necrology, necrophagous, necrosis

Word Origin

from Greek nekros corpse

Word Origin and History for necro-

before vowels, necr-, word-forming element meaning "death, corpse, dead tissue," from comb. form of Greek nekros "dead body, corpse, dead person," from PIE *nek- "death, natural death" (cf. Sanskrit nasyati "disappears, perishes," Avestan nasyeiti "disappears," nasu- "corpse," Old Persian vi-nathayatiy "he injures;" Latin nex, genitive necis "violent death, murder" (as opposed to mors), nocere "to harm, hurt," noxius "harmful;" Greek nekus "dead" (adj.), nekros "dead body, corpse;" Old Irish ec, Breton ankou, Welsh angeu "death").

necro- in Medicine

necro- or necr-
pref.

Dead body; corpse: necrophilia.
Death: necrobiosis.