zygo-, zyg-, -zygous; zygomatico- +
(Greek: yoke, forming pairs; joined, union; or indicating a relationship to a junction; meaning a yoke or crossbar by which two draft animals; such as, oxen could be hitched to a plow or wagon)
zygodont (adjective) (not comparable)
Relating to molar teeth whose even number of cusps are paired: Such zygodont crushing teeth have paired ridges and are yoked together, as a mammal or a kind of dentition.
Reproduction involving the formation of a zygote or genetic duplication: Mandy read in her biology book about zygogenesis and that it involved cell fusion taking place after a female and a male animal mate.
A "zygote" is the fertilized cell that will grow into a baby animal. When a female's ovum and a male's sperm cell become one, this cell is called the "zygote".
The dissolution, decomposition, or disintegration of a union, junction, or fusion of something.
zygoma (noun), zygomas (pl)
The part of the temporal bone of the skull that forms the prominence of the cheek: In the car accident, Jill broke her zygoma, or cheekbone, and had to go to the hospital for surgery.
The zygoma also refers to the zygomatic bone, the zygomatic arch, and the malar bone.
Divination by using weights: Jane was interested in zygomancy, which had been practised by many cultures including the Greeks, Persians, and Romans, and found out that by using light or heavy weights, it was a way to understand the past, the present, and to foretell the future.
zygomatic (adjective), more zygomatic, most zygomatic
Relating to the cheek region of the face: In her biology class at school, Mary learned that only one muscle was responsible for smiling, and that was the zygomatic major.
zygomaticoauricular (adjective) (not comparable)
Relating to the cheekbone, or also called the malar bone, and the externally visible part of the ear; relating to the ear or the sense of hearing: In the car accident, the zygomaticoauricular part of Sandy's face was badly injured and she had to have an operation and stay in hospital for quite a while.
The "zygomatic bone" is the quadrilateral bone which forms the prominence of the cheek. It articulates with the frontal, sphenoid, temporal, and maxillary bones.
One of three extrinsic muscles of the ear: The zygomaticoauricularis moves the auricula (external ear) forward and upward and some people can voluntarily contract the auricularis anterior to move the ears.
zygomaticofacial (adjective) (not comparable)
Pertaining to the cheek bone and the face: Because Mark was in a bad car accident, the zygomaticofacial bones were badly injured, so he had to have an operation and stay in hospital for quite a while.
zygomaticofrontal (adjective) (not comparable)
A reference to the bone that forms the prominence of the cheek and the frontal bone: Jane was careful to spread the new suncream over the zygomaticofrontal parts of her face to protect her from the sun's rays.
zygomaticomaxillary (adjective) (not comparable)
Relating to the zygoma and the maxilla, the upper jawbone in vertebrates which is fused to the cranium or skull: When Daisy fell from her horse and injured herself badly, she was taken to hospital where the doctors diagnosed her as having a zygomaticomaxillary injury needing immediate surgery.
zygomatico-orbital (adjective) (not comparable)
Pertaining to the zygoma and the orbit, such as the bony cavity containing the eyes: Rose complained of her eyes hurting her, so when she was at the ophthalmologist's, the zygomatico-orbital areas were also examined.
zygomaticosphenoid (adjective) (not comparable)
Pertaining to the zygoma and the butterfly-shaped sphenoid bone at the base of the skull: In her biology book, Ruth saw a drawing of the zygomaticosphenoid parts of the head structure and noticed a fissure between the two sections.
zygomaticotemporal (adjective) (not comparable)
Pertaining to the bone that forms the prominence of the cheek and the temporal bone: Tina was overwhelmed with the number of bones in the skull which were explained in detail in her book, including the zygomaticotemporal ones near the temples in the head.
zygomorphic (adjective), more zygomorphic, most zygomorphic
Regarding the division of a flower into symmetrical halves by only one longitudinal plane passing through the axis: Many flowers are symmetrical in only one plane (that is, symmetry is bilateral) and are termed to be irregular or zygomorphic (meaning yoke-formed or pair-formed).
In irregular flowers, other floral parts may be modified from the regular form, but the petals show the greatest deviation from radial symmetry.
Examples of zygomorphic flowers may be seen in orchids and members of the pea family.