polymer
n. countablen. a large molecule made of many smaller, repeating parts joined together. You find them in natural things like wood and silk, or man-made things like plastic.
n. a substance consisting of very large molecules, or macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits. Refers to both synthetic materials like plastics and natural materials like proteins or cellulose.
Plastic is a common type of synthetic polymer.
Scientists are developing a new polymer that breaks down naturally in the ocean to reduce pollution.
The unique properties of this specific polymer, including its high tensile strength and thermal resistance, make it an ideal candidate for aerospace engineering applications.
From poly- + -mer, from Ancient Greek πολύς (polús, “many”) + μέρος (méros, “part”). Coined by Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1833, though his definition was quite different from the modern one.
Often used in the plural when discussing different types of materials.