terato-, terata-, terat-, tera- (Greek > Latin: marvel, omen, monster; malformation).tera-: Used in the metric [decimal] system as one trillion [U.S.] and billionfold [U.K.]: 1012 [1 000 000 000 000] or a million million. The metric symbol for tera- is T. According to the Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1992: Tera- comes "from a Greek term meaning ‘marvel' or 'monster,' with the sense that this is a huge and marvelous quantity." Oh, PLEASE! This is about the worst reason for misusing a prefix that I have ever seen. It would make much more sense to have this metric unit (tera) based on tetra- [Greek], "four" then terato- which has no relative connection with this or any metric unit. teramorphous:
Having a monstrous form or nature.
teras (singular), terata (plural) : A monster.
teratic, teratical:
Monstrous; having the characters of a monster.
teratism:
1. In medicine, an anomaly of formation or development; the condition of a monster.
2. The worship of monstrosities; such as, the Egyptian goddess Hathor (represented as a woman's body with a cow's head), Bubashtis (as a woman with the head of a cat or lioness), and Thoth (who had the body of a man and the head of an ibis). teratocarcinoma:
A malignant neoplasm consisting of elements of teratoma with those of embryonal carcinoma or choriocarcinoma, or both; occurring most often in the testis.
teratogen:
An agent or factor which causes malformation of the developing embryo.
teratogenesis, teratogenetic, teratogenic, teratogeny:
The production of monsters or misshapen organisms.
teratoid:
Monstrous, resembling a monster (denotes any malformed animal, including man, that deviates grotesquely from the norm with the implication that the result is hideous, frightening, and revolting. Anyone who has viewed "freak shows" at circuses or carnivals has been exposed to teratological experiences.
teratologist:
A specialist in teratology.
teratology, teratological:
1. In medicine, the study of birth defects and their causes; that division of embryology and pathology that deals with abnormal development and congenital malformations.
2. Used in biology to denote the study and science of malformations and abnormal growths in animals and plants. 3. Of or pertaining to teratology; the study of monstrosities or abnormal formations in animals or plants; involving monstrosity, monstrous. teratoma (singular), teratomatous, teratomata (plural):
1. In medicine, a true neoplasm made up of a number of different types of tissue, none of which is native to the area in which it occurs; most often found in the ovary or testis.
2. A tumour, especially of the gonads, characteristically formed of numerous distinct tissues and believed usually to arise from germ cells or their precursors. teratophobia:
1. An abnormal fear of bearing or giving birth to a monster (deformed baby).
2. An abnormal fear of deformed people including pregnant women. teratoscopy:
1. The observation of or the augury from prodigies (people with exceptional talents or powers; from Latin, prodigiosus, "portentious, marvelous, unnatural").
2. Divination via the use of monstrosities. teratospermia:
The presence of malformed spermatozoa in the semen.
teratosis:
An anomaly of formation or development; the condition of a monster.
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