before vowels nephr-, word-forming element meaning "kidney, kidneys," from Greek nephros "a kidney" (plural nephroi), from PIE *negwhro- "kidney" (source also of Latin nefrones, Old Norse nyra, Dutch nier, German Niere "kidney").
Entries linking to nephro-
nephrectomy n.
"excision of a kidney," 1880, from nephro- "kidney" + -ectomy "a cutting out."
nephridium n.
(plural nephridia), "sexual or renal organ of mollusks," 1848, Modern Latin, from Greek diminutive of nephros "kidney" (see nephro-).