Go to 'thermo-' entry Go to 'dino-' entry Go to 'chondro-' entry Go to 'aero-' entry Go to '-logy' entry Go to 'thaumato-' entry Go to 'nano-' entry Go to '-sophy' entry Go to 'bucco-' entry Go to '-ism' entry Go to '-lysis' entry Go to 'galacto-' entry Go to '-anthropy' entry Go to 'pneumo-' entry Go to '-ploitation' entry Go to '-lithic' entry Go to '-sepalous' entry Go to 'onco-' entry Go to '-parous' entry Go to 'dermato-' entry Go to 'multi-' entry Go to 'dodeca-' entry Go to '-zoon' entry Go to 'vermi-' entry Go to 'crystallo-' entry Go to 'biblio-' entry Go to 'eco-' entry Go to 'juxta-' entry Go to 'facio-' entry
Affixes: the building blocks of English
Affixes: the building blocks of English
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helio-

The Sun.

[Greek hēlios, sun.]

The Sun is at the centre of the solar system, which is therefore heliocentric; the heliosphere is the volume of space, enclosing the solar system, in which the solar wind has a significant influence. A heliograph is either a type of telescope for photographing the Sun, or a signalling device that reflects sunlight off a mirror. Heliotherapy is the therapeutic use of sunlight. Heliotrope (Greek trepein, to turn) is a plant of the borage family whose flowers turn towards the Sun; it has purple flowers, so the word can also refer to that colour. A beautiful variety of clear yellow beryl is called heliodor (literally ‘a gift from the Sun’, from Greek dōron, gift).

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