heter-, hetero- +
(Greek: different, other, another, unlike; irregular, abnormal; used as a prefix)
This Greek element forms many scientific and other terms, often in opposition to homo-. Sometimes it is also the antonym of auto-, homoeo-, iso-, ortho-, and syn-.
heterocarpous, heterocarpian
In botany, producing fruit of different kinds.
heterocephalous
1. Applied to a composite plant bearing flower-heads of different kinds, male and female.
2. A fetus with two unequal heads.
heterochiral, heterocheiral, heterochirally
1. An identical form but with lateral inversion, as the right and left hands; opposite of homochiral.
2. Reversed as regards right and left, but otherwise the same in form and size, such as the hands.
3. Relating to or a reference to the other hand.
heterochromatic, heterochromatism
Relating to or possessing more than one color; relating to light or other radiation of more than one wavelength.
heterochromia, heterochromic, heterochronism, heterochrome, heterochromous
1. In medicine, a difference in color between two organs (especially the eyes), or between different parts of the same organ, that are usually the same color.
2. Having an abnormal difference in coloration.
heterochron
Having varying chronaxies.
heterochronia, heterochronic, heterochronism, heterochronistic
1. Occurring at different times; irregular; intermittent; applied to the pulse.
2. The occurrence of a process, or development of a tissue, organ, or organic form, at an abnormal time.
3. Origin or development of tissues or organs at an unusual time or out of the regular sequence.
heterochthonous
Something, or someone, originating in a geographical area other than that in which it is found.
heterocrine
Having both an endocrine and an exocrine secretion.
heterodactyl
Having the toes, or one of them, irregular or abnormal, as certain families of birds.
heterodactyly
Similar to
zygodactyly; except that digits three and four point forward and digits one and two point to the back.
This is only found in trogons (birds that peck holes in trees to make their nests). They are residents of tropical forests, particularly in South America.
heterodermatous
Having the skin or integument (outer covering or coat) of different structures in different parts, as certain fishes and serpents; opposite of homodermatous.
heterodermic
Denoting a skin graft taken from a member of another species.
heterodont
Having teeth of different kinds or forms (incisors, canines, and molars), as most mammals.
Heterodontosaurids
These “different-teeth lizards”, from Early Jurassic southern Africa, where small, early bird-hipped bipeds resembling Fabrosaurids, their likely ancestors.
Inter-related cross references, directly or indirectly, involving word units meaning "another, other, different, alternating, varied, changing":
ali-;
allo-;
alter-;
allelo-;
mut-;
poikilo-;
reciproc-;
vari-.
Subscribe to this FREE Focusing on Words Newsletter