graph
(GRAF)to write or draw
Greek for writing or drawing — anything that records on a surface.
The story behind this root
Greek graphein meant to scratch a mark — into wax, clay, or stone. Every word ending in -graph or -graphy traces back to that simple act of leaving a mark behind.
Example words
autograph
a person's own signature
photograph
a picture made with light
telegraph
a system that sends written messages over distance
biography
the written story of someone's life
Words in our dictionary that use this root
Every dataset word containing graph, with the parts it shares with other roots in our set.
autograph
a person's own signature
photograph
a picture made with light
telegraph
a system that sends written messages over distance
biography
the written story of someone's life
polygraph
a machine that records many signals (a lie detector)
geography
the study of the earth's features
autobiography
the story of one's own life
Common Core alignment
Grades served: 4, 5
- L.4.4bUse common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).
- L.5.4bUse common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., photograph, photosynthesis).
Related roots
Communication. Roots about writing, speaking, and the words we use.
Browse all communication roots →