Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “microRNA” come from?

microRNA is a modern English compound of micro-, from Ancient Greek μικρός meaning "small," ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European smēyg-.

microRNA (English): A single-stranded, non-coding form of RNA, having...

Definitions

  1. A single-stranded, non-coding form of RNA, having...

Ancestry of “microRNA”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishmicro-API; Very small; One millionth
2Ancient Greekμικρο-—
3Ancient Greekμικρόςlittle, small
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmēy-soft, tender, dear

Words derived from “microRNA”

  • oncomir
  • microRNAome
  • miRNA
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mēy- →