Word
monomer
/ˈmɑnəmɝ/
Definition
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.
Examples
“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.”
Examples
simple
“The monomer is the basic unit of the plastic.”
contextual
“In the lab, the students mixed the monomer with a catalyst to start the polymerization process.”
complex
“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.”
Etymology
From mono- + -mer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/monomer