combining form. variants: or tetr- Definition of tetra- (Entry 2 of 2) 1 : four : having four : having four parts tetravalent. 2 : containing four atoms or groups (of a specified kind) tetrachloride.

Why does Tetra mean 4?

Tetra- ultimately comes from the Greek téttares, meaning “four.” The name of the classic video game Tetris is based in part on this Greek root. Find out the rest of the story of how Tetris got its name here. The Latin word for “four” is quattor, source of the combining forms quadr-, quadra-, quadri-, and quadru-.

Why is Tetra used instead of quad?

The difference is in the derivation of the words. The word “Quadri” means four in Latin; the word “Plegia” means paralysis in Greek. ... The Greek word for four is “Tetra.” Combine that with “plegia” and you have a word with Greek roots for both halves.