-cide

a learned borrowing from Latin meaning “killer,” “act of killing,” used in the formation of compound words: pesticide, homicide.

Origin of -cide

late Middle English < Latin -cīda killer, -cīdium act of killing, derivatives of caedere to cut down, kill (in compounds -cīdere)

Words nearby -cide

-chore, -chroic, -chrome, -chroous, -cidal, -cide, -cion, -clase, -clasis, -cle, -cleisis

British Dictionary definitions for -cide

-cide

n combining form

indicating a person or thing that kills insecticide
indicating a killing; murder homicide

Derived forms of -cide

-cidal, adj combining form

Word Origin for -cide

from Latin -cīda (agent), -cīdium (act), from caedere to kill

Medical definitions for -cide

-cide

suff.

Killer:bactericide.
Act of killing:suicide.

Scientific definitions for -cide

-cide

A suffix that means “a killer of.” It is used to form the names of chemicals that kill a specified organism, such as pesticide, a chemical that kills pests.