ro

Everyday

1. «RO» is short for «reverse osmosis», a way of cleaning water by pushing it through a very fine filter. tree →
2. «ro» is the internet code and language code for Romania and the Romanian language (as in a web address ending «.ro»). tree →
3. «ro» is often just a piece of a longer word, such as «ro» in «robot» or «row». tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life you may see «RO water» on a water filter or bottle: water cleaned by reverse osmosis. In computing, «.ro» at the end of a web address shows a Romanian website. In science lessons about water, reverse osmosis is one way to make sea water safe to drink. On its own, «ro» is not an English word you would use in a sentence.

Examples

• Our kitchen filter makes RO water. tree →
• The RO system takes salt out of sea water. tree →
• A website ending in .ro is usually from Romania. tree →
• The language code «ro» stands for Romanian. tree →
• Some ships use RO machines to make drinking water. tree →
• «Ro» here is only the start of the word «robot». tree →

Note

Not an English word on its own: an abbreviation or a fragment. Write «RO» in capitals for reverse osmosis. Do not confuse with «row» (a line of things) or «roe» (fish eggs), which sound the same.