Mut-

Meaning: change

Root word: Latin mūtare

Roots with similar meanings:

  • mut– meaning “move”

Roots with opposite meanings:

Notes: The Greek and Latin roots meaning to move and to change are closely related, linked through proto-Indo-European. Therefore, many English words can be thought to derive from either root.

Derived English Words

Commonly encountered words are in bold.

Immutable: Unchanging over time or unable to be changed; often used to describe laws, principles, or characteristics that are constant and enduring.

Mutate: To undergo a change in form or nature; in genetics, it specifically refers to a change in the DNA sequence of an organism, which can lead to variations in traits.

Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that can result in variations in traits or characteristics. Mutations can occur naturally or be induced by external factors.

Mutagen: An agent, such as a chemical, radiation, or biological factor, that causes mutations in the DNA of organisms, potentially leading to changes in traits or increased risk of disease.

Mutant: An organism or cell that has undergone a mutation, often resulting in observable changes in physical characteristics or behavior compared to the original form.

Mutilate: To inflict severe damage, injury, or disfigurement on something, often resulting in the loss of a part or the alteration of its appearance.

Permutation: An arrangement or rearrangement of elements in a particular order; often used in mathematics and combinatorics to describe different possible arrangements of a set of items.

Commutation: The act of changing or substituting one thing for another; in mathematics, it can refer to the property of certain operations where the order of the operands does not affect the outcome (e.g., addition and multiplication). In a legal context, it may refer to the reduction of a judicial sentence.

Other Uses

Links

List of Greek and Latin roots in English – Wikipedia

Words Derived from Roots

Greek Alphabet

Other Roots Used in These Words

RootMeaning
gen-origin
per-thorough
im-not
com-with

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