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chemo

1 American  
[kee-moh, kem-oh] / ˈki moʊ, ˈkɛm oʊ /

noun

Informal.

plural

chemos

  1. chemotherapy or a chemotherapy treatment.

chemo- 2 American  

  1. a combining form with the meanings “chemical,” “chemically induced,” “chemistry,” used in the formation of compound words.

    chemotherapy.
chemo 1 British  
/ ˈkiːməʊ /

noun

  1. informal short for chemotherapy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
chemo- 2 British  

combining form

  1. indicating that chemicals or chemical reactions are involved

    chemotherapy
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of chemo1

By shortening; -o

Origin of chemo-2

chem-, extracted from chemical or chemistry + -o- or -i-

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hewlett says the album was also inspired by his late mother-in-law, Amo, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and opted for Eastern medicine instead of chemo.

From Los Angeles Times

Kutler had her final chemo session last Friday, and doctors say her health prognosis is good.

From Los Angeles Times

Her first round of chemo and radiotherapy is over, although she is still living with the disease.

From Barron's

“And she was too tired from the chemo and didn’t want me ‘underfoot,’” she said, making them again.

From Literature

“I’m done with the chemo,” Laura replied.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.