English Lexicon

Polymer

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

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A substance composed of large molecules made up of a chain of repeating units (monomers).

    "Plastic is a common type of polymer used in various products."
  2. 2

    A class of materials that can be natural or synthetic and are characterized by their high molecular weight.

    "Natural polymers like cellulose are found in plants."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'polymer' originates from the Greek word 'polus', meaning 'many', and 'meros', meaning 'parts'. It was first used in the early 19th century to describe large molecules formed by the combination of smaller units.

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