pheno-: Meaning and Definition of

pheno-

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. a combining form meaning “shining,” “appearing, seeming,” used in the formation of compound words: phenocryst.
  2. a combining form used in the names of chemical compounds that contain phenol or the phenyl group, are related to aromatic compounds, or derive from benzene: phenobarbital.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.