Polymer: meaning, definitions and examples
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polymer
[ ˈpɒlɪmə ]
chemistry
A substance that has a molecular structure consisting chiefly or entirely of a large number of similar units bonded together.
Synonyms
compound, macromolecule, resin
Examples of usage
- This polymer is used in the production of various plastic materials.
- The polymerization process creates long chains of molecules.
biology
A large molecule composed of many repeated subunits.
Synonyms
biopolymer, macromolecule, polymer compound
Examples of usage
- DNA is a polymer made up of nucleotide monomers.
- Proteins are polymers made up of amino acid monomers.
Translations
Translations of the word "polymer" in other languages:
🇵🇹 polímero
🇮🇳 बहुलक
🇩🇪 Polymer
🇮🇩 polimer
🇺🇦 полімер
🇵🇱 polimer
🇯🇵 ポリマー (porimā)
🇫🇷 polymère
🇪🇸 polímero
🇹🇷 polimer
🇰🇷 폴리머 (pollimeo)
🇸🇦 بوليمر
🇨🇿 polymer
🇸🇰 polymér
🇨🇳 聚合物 (jùhéwù)
🇸🇮 polimer
🇮🇸 fjölliða
🇰🇿 полимер
🇬🇪 პოლიმერი (polimeri)
🇦🇿 polimer
🇲🇽 polímero
Word origin
The term 'polymer' was first coined by the Swedish chemist Jons Jacob Berzelius in 1833, combining the Greek words 'poly', meaning many, and 'meros', meaning parts. The development and study of polymers have revolutionized multiple industries, from plastics to biology, leading to numerous advancements in materials science and technology.