philo-, phil-, -phile, -philia, -philic, -philous, -phily, -philiac, -philist, -philism
(Greek: love, loving, friendly to, fondness for, attraction to; strong tendency toward, affinity for)
These are just a few of the meanings set up for the etymological meanings of philo- which comes to us from Greek.
In biology, there are many words that use philo-, phil- to mean "thriving in such and such a place or situation; or exhibiting a tendency for a specified condition" for its existence.
Other meanings include: "strongly attracted to; such as, an organism that loves or is strongly attracted to something which is specified".
In psychology and psychiatry, -phile, -philia, etc. use this element as a word termination indicating an abnormal craving or attraction to or an affinity for an object as shown by the word stems to which they are affixed.
A collector of metalwork: Clive had a lot of antique objects made of metal, and, as a metartephilists, had them on display at the local museum.
An organism capable of oxidizing methane or bacteria that are able to metabolize methane as their only source of carbon and energy.
An anaerobe that requires only a low oxygen content: A microaerophile is a bacterium that needs some oxygen and grows in an environment with moderate atmospheric conditions.
microaerophilic (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Concerning growth in an oxygen concentration significantly less than that of the atmosphere: Microaerophilic life forms can develop in an environment where the partial pressure of oxygen is significantly below normal atmospheric levels but which is not fully anaerobic.
3. Referring to a tiny organism which is capable of living in an environment where there is not much oxygen: A microaerophilic form of life can be a bacterium that can thrive in an environment with less oxygen than normal.
3. Referring to a tiny organism which is capable of living in an environment where there is not much oxygen: A microaerophilic form of life can be a bacterium that can thrive in an environment with less oxygen than normal.
The condition of a aerobic bacterium thriving in a habitat with a low oxygen level: Microaerophily describes the situation where a bacterium, for example the Clostridiumm, an obligate anaerobe, that can grow in am environment without oxygen.
micromelittophilous (adjective) (not comparablew)
Descriptive of pollination by small bees: Micromelittophilous fertilization by little bees often takes place in urban areas where there are a lot of miniature flowers.
The process of pollination by small bees: It was interesting for Jenny to learn about micromelittophily because she could observe the little bees buzzing around and fertilizing the tiny flowers on the lawn where she lived in the city with her parents.
micromyiophilous (adjective) (not comparable)
Concerning little flies that pollinate flowers: In a book that Jane read, micromyiophilous flies were explained as tiny flies that fertilized the little flowers that grew on the lawn beside her house.
The situation of tiny flies pollinating plants: Micromyiophily describes the fondness of tiny flies in feeding on the nectar of flowers, going from one flower to the next, and fertilizing them on their course of travel.
A form of life that can tolerate only a certain temperature range: A microphile can be a specific kind of bacterium that requires some oxygen and thrives solely under a limited range of temperature.
microphilic (adjective) (not comparable)
In biology, concerning a life form that thrives only within a narrow temperature range: A microphilic aerobic bacterium requires oxygen, but less than is present in the air, and grows best under modified atmospheric conditions.
The existence of a form of life which takes place in a specific range of temperature: After reading about microphily, Gladys found out that certain bacteria can only survive in a moderate atmospheric environment.
An organism that lives best in cold temperature areas of the northern hemisphere: There are some microthermophiles, like bacteria, fungi, or algae that can survive in very cold regions.
microthermophilous (adjective), more microthermophilous, most microthermophilous
In biology, regarding a form of life thriving in cool or cold temperate regions of the northern hemisphere: Some microthermophilous microorganisms are able to grow and develop even below the freezing point.
The situation of a life form thriving in the boreal regions of the north: Microthermophily concerns the life of bacteria well adapted to live at low temperatures and with low water activity.
You may take a self-scoring quiz over some of the words in this section by just clicking this Philo Quiz #1 link.Related "love, fondness" units: agape-; amat-; vener-; venus.
