What it means
The combining form for white. Most often it points to white blood cells: a leukocyte (leuk/o + -cytesiteA word ending that means cell.Full entry ) is a white blood cell, leukocytosis is a high white cell count, leukopenia is a low one and leukemia is a cancer of the tissue that makes white cells. In leukoplakia it means white patches, for example on the tongue or inside the cheek.
Remember it
Leukocytes are the white cells; erythrocytes are the red ones.
At a glance
| Also written | leuko- |
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Related terms
hem/o
A word part that means blood.
-emia
A word ending that means a condition of the blood, or something in the blood.
blood cell
Any of the cells carried in the blood: red cells, white cells or platelets.
-cyte
A word ending that means cell.