The prefix “bi-“ comes from Latin and means “two” or “twice”. It is commonly used to describe something involving two parts, two occurrences, or something that happens every two intervals. Below are five words with the prefix “bi-” and their meanings:
1. Bicycle
- Definition: A vehicle with two wheels that is powered by pedaling.
- Breakdown: “Bi-” means two, and “cycle” refers to a circular motion or wheel.
- Example: “She rode her bicycle to the park.”
2. Bilingual
- Definition: Able to speak two languages fluently.
- Breakdown: “Bi-” means two, and “lingual” relates to language or the tongue.
- Example: “Being bilingual is a great advantage in today’s global job market.”
3. Biweekly
- Definition: Occurring every two weeks or twice a week (depending on context).
- Breakdown: “Bi-” means two, and “weekly” refers to a week.
- Example: “The company holds biweekly meetings every other Thursday.”
4. Binoculars
- Definition: A device with two lenses used for viewing distant objects.
- Breakdown: “Bi-” means two, and “oculars” relates to the eyes.
- Example: “He used binoculars to watch the birds in the forest.”
5. Biped
- Definition: An animal or human that walks on two legs.
- Breakdown: “Bi-” means two, and “ped” comes from the Latin word for foot.
- Example: “Humans and birds are examples of bipeds.”
The prefix “bi-” is a versatile component of the English language that adds the concept of “two” or “double” to many words. Understanding prefixes like “bi-” can help you infer the meanings of unfamiliar words and expand your vocabulary. These examples—bicycle, bilingual, biweekly, binoculars, and biped—show how “bi-” is used in different contexts to convey the idea of two or duality.