What does the prefix TRANS- mean?

What does the prefix TRANS- mean?

• A. Across
• B. Under
• C. Through
• D. Within

Answer: (A)

Trans- signals moving from one side to another or crossing a boundary. In medical terms you see it to mean across, as in transdermal (across the skin) or transverse (running across). That broad, general sense is why Across is the best answer. Prefixes like sub- mean under and intra- mean within, which don’t fit this idea of moving across. Trans- can sometimes be read as through in some terms, but the common teaching emphasizes the idea of across as the core meaning.

Trans- signals moving from one side to another or crossing a boundary. In medical terms you see it to mean across, as in transdermal (across the skin) or transverse (running across). That broad, general sense is why Across is the best answer. Prefixes like sub- mean under and intra- mean within, which don’t fit this idea of moving across. Trans- can sometimes be read as through in some terms, but the common teaching emphasizes the idea of across as the core meaning.