Etymology: alteration (influenced by Latin hydr-, hydro-) of Middle English ydr-, ydro-, from Old French ydr- & Middle French ydro-, from Latin hydr-, hydro-, from Greek, from hydōr — more at water
1.
a. : water
hydrogel
hydroelectricity
b. : hydraulic
hydropress
2. : water-loving organism — chiefly in generic names
Hydracarina
Hydrodictyon
3.
a. : hydrogen : containing hydrogen
hydriodic acid
hydroborate
b. now usually hydro- : combined with hydrogen — especially in names of organic compounds
hydroquinidine
c. : combined with water by hydration
hydracrylic acid
or by hydrolysis
hydrocellulose
4. : characterized by an accumulation of fluid in a (specified) bodily part
hydronephrosis
5.
a. : combined with water — in names of minerals
hydrohetaerolite
b. : characterized by addition of water or its constituents — in names of varieties of minerals
hydromica
hydromedusa
hydrorhiza
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hydr-1var. of hydro-1 before a vowel: hydrant.
hydr-2
var. of hydro-2 before a vowel: hydride.
* * *
hydr-,
* * *
* * *
hydr-the usual form of hydro- bef. a vowel.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.