pyro-

a combining form meaning “fire,” “heat,” “high temperature,” used in the formation of compound words: pyrogen; pyrolusite; pyromancy.
Chemistry. a combining form used in the names of inorganic acids, indicating that the acid's water content is intermediate between that of the corresponding ortho- (more water) and meta- (least water) acids (pyroantimonic, H4Sb2O7, pyroarsenic, H4As2O7, and pyrosulfuric, H2S2O7, acids). The combining form is also used in the names of the salts of these acids. If the acid ends in -ic, the corresponding salt ends in -ate (pyroboric acid, H2B4O7, and potassium pyrobate, K2B4O7, or pyrosulfuric, H2S2O7, and pyrosulfate, N2S2O7); if the acid ends in -ous, the corresponding salt ends in -ite (pyrophosphorous acid, H4P2O5, potassium pyrophosphite, K4P2O5).
Also pyr-.

Origin of pyro-

< Greek pyro-, combining form of pŷr fire

Words nearby pyro-

pyriphlegethon, pyrite, pyrites, pyritohedron, pyro, pyro-, pyrobitumen, pyroborate, pyrocatechol, pyrocellulose, pyrochemical

British Dictionary definitions for pyro-

pyro-

before a vowel pyr-

combining form

denoting fire, heat, or high temperature pyromania; pyrometer
caused or obtained by fire or heat pyroelectricity
chem
  1. denoting a new substance obtained by heating anotherpyroboric acid is obtained by heating boric acid
  2. denoting an acid or salt with a water content intermediate between that of the ortho- and meta- compoundspyro-phosphoric acid
mineralogy
  1. having a property that changes upon the application of heatpyromorphite
  2. having a flame-coloured appearancepyroxylin

Word Origin for pyro-

from Gk pur fire

Medical definitions for pyro-

pyro-

pref.

Fire; heat:pyrophobia.
Relating to the action of fire or heat:pyrolysis.
Fever:pyrogen.
Derived from an acid by the loss of a water molecule:pyrophosphoric acid.