1. rotating the plane of polarized light to the left; left-handed (in chemical compounds)
Usage: chemistry; technical

1. a combining form meaning 'left' or 'toward the left,' used in chemistry and medicine to indicate a compound that rotates the plane of polarized light to the left (counterclockwise)
Usage: chemistry; medicine; also spelled 'laevo' in British English

Examples

• Levorotatory compounds bend light to the left.
• The levo form of the molecule has different biological activity than its dextro counterpart.
• Levodopa is a levo compound used to treat Parkinson's disease.
• In chemistry, the levo prefix indicates the direction of optical rotation.
• The levo isomer is the active form in this medication.