mesomorphismn.
/ˌmɛsə(ʊ)ˈmɔːfɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˌmɛzoʊˈmɔrfɪz(ə)m/; see also meso- comb. form. 1. Physical Chemistry. The state or property of being mesomorphic (sense 2).
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the world > matter > chemistry > physical chemistry > mesophases > [noun] > mesomorphism
mesomorphism1933
1933 Trans. Faraday Soc. 29 1008 (heading) Lyotropic mesomorphism.
1969 J. S. Dave et al. in G. H. Brown et al. Liquid Crystals 2 II. 229 The authors have investigated mixed mesomorphism in the binary mixtures wherein one of the components is a pure smectic mesomorph and the other a non-liquid crystalline Schiff's base.
1991 Progress Polymer Sci. 16 56 Almost all pure compounds exhibiting thermotropic mesomorphism have pronounced anisotropy of shape.
2. Botany. = mesomorphy n. 2. rare.
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1953 Ecology 34 428/1 The phosphate content of the leaves increases with increasing mesomorphism.
3. Anthropometry. = mesomorphy n. 1. rare.
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the world > life > the body > bodily height > shortness > [noun] > and broadness
dumpiness1824
pugginess1832
punchiness1850
podginess1872
mesomorphy1940
mesomorphism1953
1953 Philos. Rev. 62 656 Morris discusses the influence of endomorphism, mesomorphism, and ectomorphism on philosophies, and also the attitudes of dependence, dominance, and detachment.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1933