nounWord forms: plural-helices (-ˈhɛlɪˌsiːz) or -helixes
biochemistry
a molecular structure in which a helix is coiled into a higher-order helix
superhelix in American English
(ˈsuːpərˌhilɪks)
nounWord forms: plural-helices (-ˌheləˌsiz) or -helixes
Biochemistry
a coil formed by intertwined helical DNA or by protein chains
Also called: supercoil
Derived forms
superhelical (ˌsuːpərˈhelɪkəl, -ˈhilɪ-)
adjective
superhelicity (ˌsuːpərhəˈlɪsɪti)
noun
Word origin
[super- + helix]super- is a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, with the basic meaning“above, beyond.” Words formed with super- have the following general senses: “to place or be placed above or over” (superimpose; supersede), “a thing placed over or added to another” (superscript; superstructure; supertax), “situated over” (superficial; superlunary) and, more figuratively, “an individual, thing, or property that exceeds customarynorms or levels” (superalloy; superconductivity; superman; superstar), “an individual or thing larger, more powerful, or with wider application than othersof its kind” (supercomputer; superhighway; superpower; supertanker), “exceeding the norms or limits of a given class” (superhuman; superplastic), “having the specified property to a great or excessive degree” (supercritical; superfine; supersensitive), “to subject to (a physical process) to an extreme degree or in an unusual way”(supercharge; supercool; supersaturate), “a category that embraces a number of lesser items of the specified kind” (superfamily; supergalaxy), “a chemical compound with a higher proportion than usual of a given constituent”(superphosphate)