onto

[ on-too, awn-; unstressed on-tuh, awn- ]
/ ˈɒn tu, ˈɔn-; unstressed ˈɒn tə, ˈɔn- /

preposition

to a place or position on; upon; on: to get onto a horse.
Informal. in or into a state of awareness about: I'm onto your scheme.

adjective

Also surjective. Mathematics. pertaining to a function or map from one set to another set, the range of which is the entire second set.

Origin of onto

First recorded in 1575–85; on + to

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH onto

on onto on to

Definition for onto (2 of 2)

onto-

a combining form meaning “being,” used in the formation of compound words: ontogeny.
Also especially before a vowel, ont-.

Origin of onto-

< New Latin < Greek ont- (stem of ón, neuter present participle of eînai to be) + -o- -o-

Example sentences from the Web for onto

British Dictionary definitions for onto (1 of 2)

onto

on to

/ (ˈɒntʊ, unstressed ˈɒntə) /

preposition

to a position that is on step onto the train as it passes
having become aware of (something illicit or secret) the police are onto us
into contact with get onto the factory

usage for onto

Onto is now generally accepted as a word in its own right. On to is still used, however, where on is considered to be part of the verb: he moved on to a different town as contrasted with he jumped onto the stage

British Dictionary definitions for onto (2 of 2)

onto-

combining form

existence or being ontogeny; ontology

Word Origin for onto-

from Late Greek, from ōn (stem ont-) being, present participle of einai to be

Medical definitions for onto

onto-

pref.

Organism; being:ontogeny.