ˌblast, -aa(ə)st, -aist noun combining form
( -s )
Etymology: New Latin -blastus, from Greek blastos; akin to Old English molda top of the head, Greek blōthros tall, melathron roof, Sanskrit mūrdhan head, Tocharian A malto first
1. biology
a. : germ : shoot : sprout
b. : embryonic or formative cell — in names of formative cells corresponding to names of fully developed cells ending in -cyte
erythro blast
c. : germ layer : formative layer of cells
splanchno blast
d. : formative constituent unit of living matter
idio blast
2. geology : crystal formed during metamorphism
porphyro blast