lithos

Lithos is a Greek root meaning stone. In modern usage it appears in a wide range of scientific and academic terms, and as part of historical and linguistic references to stone in various contexts.

In geology and earth science, lith- appears in several foundational terms. Lithology is the study of the physical characteristics of rocks, including composition, texture, and grain size. The lithosphere refers to the rigid outer shell of the Earth, encompassing the crust and upper mantle. Lithification is the process by which loose sediments become solid rock through compaction and cementation. Lithostratigraphy is the classification of rock units based on lithology, or rock type, rather than age alone.

In archaeology and paleontology, lithic designates objects or technologies made from stone, particularly stone tools. The term is central to studies of the Stone Age and to understanding early human technology and behavior.

In printing and art, lithography is a printing process that originally used a stone surface. Developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, lithography exploits the immiscibility of oil and water on a flat surface to transfer ink, and it has played a major role in fine art and publishing.

In medicine, the prefix lith- appears in terms describing stone formation, such as lithiasis (stone formation in organs) and cholelithiasis (gallstones), reflecting the root’s meaning.

Overall, lithos serves as a versatile etymological basis for terms relating to stone across disciplines, from geology and archaeology to art and medicine.