proto Definition
- 1first in time; earliest; primitive; ancestral
- 2pertaining to a precursor or prototype
Using proto: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "proto" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The proto-human species lived millions of years ago.
Example
Proto-Indo-European is the hypothetical ancestor of most European and some Asian languages.
Example
The company developed a proto-version of the software to test its functionality.
proto Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for proto
Phrases with proto
proto-language
a reconstructed or hypothetical language that is the ancestor of a group of related languages
Example
Proto-Indo-European is a proto-language that is believed to have given rise to many modern-day languages.
a single-celled organism that is considered one of the earliest forms of life on Earth
Example
Protozoans are found in almost every type of environment, from freshwater to soil to marine environments.
the process of creating an early version or model of a product or system
Example
The company used prototyping to test the design of their new product before releasing it to the market.
Origins of proto
from Greek 'protos', meaning 'first'
Summary: proto in Brief
The prefix 'proto' [proh-toh] refers to something that is first in time, earliest, primitive, or ancestral. It is often used to describe a precursor or prototype, as in 'The company developed a proto-version of the software to test its functionality.' 'Proto' extends into phrases like 'proto-language,' denoting a reconstructed or hypothetical language that is the ancestor of a group of related languages, and 'prototyping,' referring to the process of creating an early version or model of a product or system.
