ampho-, amph-, amphi-

1. A lizard of tropical America of the family Amphisbaenidae: The amphisbaena is a legless lizard with a rounded tail resembling a second head.
2. A mythological serpent in classical mythology: An amphisbaena is a poisonous snake with a head at each end of its body, allowing it to move in either direction.

Referring to a lizard of the family Amphisbaenidae:: In her book on mythology, Peggy read about an amphisbaenic serpent that had a head on the normal end and on the tip of its tail, and therefore being able to move in both directions.

A name given to inhabitants of the torrid zone: In her book, Grace read about the amphiscians who lived in the tropics where shadows in one part of the year are cast to the north, and in the other part of the year to the south, depending on when the sun is south or north of their zenith.

An amphiscian is an inhabitant of the tropics, where the shadow of the sun falls in different ways according to the time of year.

In zoology, regarding an organism having a sucker at each extremity: There are certain amphistomous leeches or parasitic worms with suckers which are used to adhere to environmental surfaces.

In architecture, regarding a structure that has columns at both front and back or on each side; amphistyle: While on vacation in Greece, Mrs. Timmons took photos of the classical amphistylar temples.

1. An oval, circular, or semicicular auditorium with tiers of seats rising from a central open area.
2. An outdoor theater in this style, especially in ancient Greece.
3. A landform suggesting an amphitheater, having a relatively flat floor surrounding by steeply sloping slides.

1. The outer layer of cells of the spore-containing capsule of a moss.
2. The layer or one of the layers of cells in the capsule of a moss surrounding the spores.
2. In certain lichens, a layer of cells that surrounds the fungal apothecium.

A condition characterized by both depression and mania.

Parthenogenesis in which both male and female offspring are produced.

A reference to a population of species showing broad, variable tolerance of habitual and environmental conditions.

Regarding a tiny organism with a flagellum at each end: Amphitrichous bacteria have a flagellum or flagella (hairlike structures) at both extremities of the microbial cell.

1. A reference to an organism that lives as a phototroph during daylight and as a chemotroph in darkness.
2. Organisms that can grow either in the day, photosynthetically; or at night, chemotrophically.

A description of an ovule or a seed: Amphitropous seeds are half inverted and straight, with the hilum lateral (scar or point of attachment of the seed); an ovule that is curved back along its funiculus (free stalk of an ovule or seed) so that the base and micropyle (minute opening on the ovule through which the pollen tube usually enters) are close together.

An animal, including humans, that eat both animal and vegetable foods.

1. Having an affinity both for acid and for basic dyes; also, amphophilic, amphophilous.
2. A cell that stains readily with either acid or basic dyes.