The prefix blast means which of the following?

• A. Short
• B. Immature cell
• C. Eye lid
• D. Slow

Answer: (B)

Blast signals a germ, bud, or immature precursor cell in medical terminology. It shows up in terms like erythroblast or osteoblast, which refer to cells in an early, immature stage before they fully mature. That’s why the best answer is immature cell. The other options point to different roots: short is usually brachy- or brev-, eyelid is blephar- or palpebra, and slow is brady-.