polymericadj.1
/ˌpɒlɪˈmɛrɪk/, U.S. /ˌpɑliˈmɛrɪk/ Chemistry.
Originally, of two or more compounds, or of one compound with another: composed of the same elements in the same proportions, the formula of one being an exact multiple of that of the other. Now usually: of the nature of or characteristic of a polymer; consisting of a polymer or polymers.
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the world > matter > chemistry > polymer chemistry > polymers > [adjective] > of or relating to two or more compounds
polymeric1833
polymerous1864
1833 Rep. 1st & 2nd Meetings Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1831–2 435 To designate compounds approaching in atomic constitution very nearly to those properly called Isomeric, Berzelius has proposed the introduction of two new terms, polymeric and metameric.
1845 W. Gregory Outl. Chem. ii. 394 Hydrated lactic acid is a syrupy liquid... It is..polymeric with dry grape sugar and with gum.
1850 C. G. B. Daubeny Introd. Atomic Theory (ed. 2) viii. 265 Olefiant gas and cetene are polymeric bodies.
1867 C. L. Bloxam Chemistry 545 Paraniline (C24H14N2) is obtained as a secondary product in the manufacture of aniline, with which it is polymeric.
1880 J. W. Legg On Bile 233 Asserted to be polymeric with bilirubin.
1922 J. J. Sudborough Bernthsen's Text-bk. Org. Chem. (new ed.) xxxii. 535 Anthracene is transformed by sunlight into the polymeric para-anthracene, (C14H10)2.
1935 C. Ellis Chem. Synthetic Resins I. ix. 169 Natural rubber is supposed to consist of a mixture of polymeric hydrocarbons.
1989 B. Alberts et al. Molecular Biol. Cell (ed. 2) ii. 58 There are two main types of nucleic acids, differing in the type of sugar in their polymeric backbone.
1990 Sci. News 4 Aug. 73/3 Researchers temporarily believed they had discovered polymeric forms of water.
2000 Roofing Trades Jrnl. Jan. 12/2 Single ply polymeric membranes emerged as an alternative to the bitumen based products.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
polymericadj.2
/ˌpɒlɪˈmɛrɪk/, U.S. /ˌpɑliˈmɛrɪk/ Genetics.
Of, relating to, or exhibiting polymery.
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the world > life > biology > biological processes > genetic activity > [adjective] > changes or actions of genes or chromosomes
hypostatic1907
polymeric1925
1925 Jrnl. Royal Anthropol. Inst. 55 473 The cephalic index may be determined by several cumulative polymeric factors, i.e. genetic factors each of which produces a certain transition from dolichocephaly towards brachycephaly.
1930 Bot. Gaz. 90 116 The fasciation of Pharbitis nil, the Japanese morning glory, is manifested by certain polymeric genes.
1961 Brit. Med. Bull. 17 241 All polygenic inheritance is polymeric, but not all polymeric inheritance is polygenic.
2000 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 97 10866/1 Ubiquitins are encoded by a small-to-medium-size multigene family, which comprises a monomeric gene class and a polymeric gene class.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.11833adj.21925