monomer
n. countable C1 Advanced US //ˈmɑnəmɝ// monomer
n. a single, small molecule that can join with other similar molecules to form a much larger one. You can think of it as a building block for things like plastic or rubber.
n. a molecule that can undergo chemical reactions to form chemical bonds with other molecules, resulting in the formation of a polymer. Often used in the context of synthetic materials and biological macromolecules.
The monomer is the basic unit of the plastic.
In the lab, the students mixed the monomer with a catalyst to start the polymerization process.
While the monomer itself is relatively inert, when subjected to high pressure and heat, it begins to link together in a long chain that forms the durable synthetic fiber used in textiles.
From mono- + -mer.