(ˈ)präs|thed.]ik, -et], ]ēk adjective
Etymology: Greek prosthetikos adding, furthering, from prosthetos put to, added (from prostithenai to add) + -ikos -ic
1. : added to a word especially by prefixing
a prosthetic letter
a prosthetic sound
2. : of or relating to prosthesis or prosthetics
prosthetic hand
prosthetic research
3. : of, relating to, or constituting a group or radical of a different kind attached to or substituted in a compound ; especially : of, relating to, or constituting a nonprotein group of a conjugated protein
the prosthetic nucleic acid group of a nucleoprotein
— compare coenzyme
• pros·thet·i·cal·ly ]ə̇k(ə)lē adverb