any of two or more physical forms in which an element can exist
diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon
allotrope in American English
(ˈæloʊˌtroʊp; ˈæləˌtroʊp)
noun
an allotropic form
allotrope in American English
(ˈæləˌtroup)
noun
Chemistry
one of two or more existing forms of an element
Graphite and diamond are allotropes of carbon
Word origin
[1885–90; allo- + -trope]This word is first recorded in the period 1885–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: classified, foregut, lineup, scrum, tonerallo- is a combining form meaning “other,” used in the formation of compound words (allotrope) and in chemistry to denote the more stable of two geometric isomers. Other wordsthat use the affix allo- include: allochromatic, allograft, allophane, allopolyploid, isallotherm