The building blocks of English

Affixes

-some3

Also ‑somal.

A part of a body, especially a cell.

Greek sōma, body.

Examples include chromosome, liposome, and ribosome. For details and more examples see the table below. Related adjectives are usually formed in ‑somal: chromosomal, ribosomal.

Examples of words in -some3
All word origins are from Greek unless otherwise stated.

autosome

any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome

autos, self

centrosome

an organelle near the nucleus of a cell which contains the centrioles

English centre

chromosome

thread-like structures in the nucleus of cells that carry genetic information

khrōma, colour, because the threads can be stained with dyes for easier viewing under a microscope

liposome

a minute spherical sac of fat molecules enclosing a water droplet, especially one formed artificially to carry drugs or other substances into the tissues

lipos, fat

lysosome

a structure in some cells containing enzymes enclosed in a membrane that degrades waste material

lusis, loosening

nucleosome

a structural unit of a chromosome in a cell nucleus

English nucleus

phagosome

a structure in the cytoplasm of a cell that has enclosed an invading cell or particle prior to destruction by lysosomes

phago‑, eating

ribosome

a minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells

English ribose

schistosome

a parasitic flatworm which needs two hosts to complete its life cycle

skhistos, divided

trypanosome

a single-celled parasitic protozoan with a trailing flagellum, infesting the blood

trupanon, borer