English Lexicon

Monomer

/ˈmɒn.ə.mər/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A molecule that can join together with other molecules to form a polymer.

    "In the production of plastics, a monomer such as ethylene is polymerized to create polyethylene."
  2. 2

    A single repeating unit in a polymer chain.

    "Each monomer in the DNA molecule contributes to the overall structure and function of the genetic material."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'monomer' is derived from the Greek roots 'mono-', meaning 'one' or 'single', and 'meros', meaning 'part'. It was first used in the early 20th century in the context of chemistry to describe a single molecule that can join together with others to form a polymer.

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