What Does The Suffix -oid Mean?

-Oid is a suffix which is widely used in different sciences and also in mathematics. The word “-oid” is derived from the suffix “-oides” which is used in Latin. It means “having the likeness of”. So when used with different scientific and mathematical terms, it means “similar”. It means similar which indicates that the thing is not exact or identical to another, but resembles it and is like it.

For example, in mathematics the word rhomboid is used meaning like a Rhombus. Similarly in Alkaloid, asteroid, etc. A metalloid means like a metal meaning the element that has some properties of a metal, for example arsenic.