Word part · Greek suffix
The Greek suffix -ic
Means: having to do with, or like.
At a glance
- Part
- -ic
- Meaning
- having to do with, or like
- Layer
- Greek: Combining forms behind science words, with spellings like ph and ch.
- Also spelled
- ics
Spelled -ics as the last part, it often names a subject or a skill: phonics.
Example words
Read each word, then its sum: the parts that build it, and what they mean together.
Colors:prefixroot or basesuffix
- phon (root or base)+ics (suffix)→phonics
using letters and their sounds to read
- symbol (root or base)+ic (suffix)→symbolic
standing for something else
- rhythm (root or base)+ic (suffix)→rhythmic
having a steady beat
- graph (root or base)+ic (suffix)→graphic
having to do with drawing or pictures
- graph (root or base)+ics (suffix)→graphics
pictures and designs, often on a screen
- photo (root or base)+graph (root or base)+ic (suffix)→photographic
having to do with photographs
- tele (root or base)+scope (root or base)+ic (suffix)→telescopic
having to do with a telescope; able to slide out longer
tele + scope + ic: drop the e → telescopic
- micro (root or base)+scope (root or base)+ic (suffix)→microscopic
too small to see without a microscope
micro + scope + ic: drop the e → microscopic
- bio (root or base)+log (root or base)+ic (suffix)+al (suffix)→biological
having to do with living things
- geo (root or base)+graph (root or base)+ic (suffix)→geographic
having to do with geography
- geo (root or base)+log (root or base)+ic (suffix)→geologic
having to do with geology
- geo (root or base)+metr (root or base)+ic (suffix)→geometric
made of simple shapes such as lines and circles
Original word lists and meanings written by Literacy Trail.
Taught alongside
Parts that share a lesson with -ic.
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