olig-, oligo-

(Greek: prefix; scanty, little, meager, tiny, infrequent; abnormally few or small)

oligodynamic action
The inhibiting, or killing, of micro-organisms by the use of very small amounts of a chemical substance.
oligogalactia
Slight or scant secretion of milk.
oligogene
Controlled by a few genes responsible for major heritable changes.
oligogenesis
A condition of having borne few children.
oligogenic
oligogenics
Birth control by means of contraceptives.
oligogynous
oligogyny
1. The mating of a single male with a few females.
2. The presence of a few queens within a single colony of social insects.
oligohalabous (adjective) (not comparable)
A reference to planktonic organisms living in sea water of less than five parts per thousand salinity: Grace saw a documentary on TV about oligohalabous living things found in ocean water with moderate brininess.
oligohaline (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Referring to brackish water that has a salinity between 0.5 and 3.0 parts per thousand, or sea water having a salinity between 17 and 30 parts per thousand: Jane is interested in knowing more about oligohaline water, which has a low salinity level in the range of 0 - 0.5%.
2. A reference to organisms that are tolerant of only a moderate range of salinities: Oligohaline creatures are those that cannot survive in a high salinity level in oceans, but only in brackish water with a saltiness of 0.5 to 3.0 parts per thousand.
oligohidrosis
Scanty or very little perspiration.
oligohydramnios (s) (noun), oligohydramnioses (pl)
An abnormally small amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus in the uterus during pregnancy: Oligohydramnios can occur if the placenta is not functioning properly, if there is something wrong with the fetal urinary tract, or if a pregnancy goes beyond 41 weeks' gestation.

If oligohydramnios takes place later in pregnancy, the pressure of the uterus on the fetus may cause deformity; such as, clubfoot when a foot has been twisted to one side or when an ankle, a heel, or toes are twisted into a shape that is not normal.

oligohydruria
Excretion of small quantities of urine, as seen in dehydration.
oligohypermenorrhea
Infrequent episodes of menstrual bleeding characterized by a heavy flow.
oligohypnotic
1. Relating to deficient sleep.
2. Concerning partial sleep.

Related "few, small, less, little" word units: micro-; mini-; mio-, meio-; nano-.