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macromolecule

macromolecule

1 7.3
A very large chemical made of many smaller parts like proteins or DNA
  • noun
  • /ˌmækroʊˈmɒlɪˌkjuːl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : macromolécula
  • Macromolecules like proteins and nucleic acids play a crucial role in biological functions.
  • biological macromolecules
  • structure of macromolecules
  • classes of macromolecules

Examples

  • There are several approaches to fragment methods that are suitable for use with macromolecules.

    Academic text (2001)
  • We focus on the feasibility of applications of quantum mechanics to macromolecules.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Determining the envelope of a macromolecule can serve as a first step toward detailed structure determination.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Unfortunately, except in rare instances, such methods do not work for macromolecules.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Early on, he became interested in the challenge of biological macromolecules.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Lipids are a fascinating class of macromolecules essential for life.

  • Illustration of the major reactions involving dietary macromolecules.

    Academic text (2011)
  • What other kinds of pressures can you think of in fluids, in fluids that have macromolecules in them, like proteins?

  • Lysosomes are important organelles of animal cells that digest various biological macromolecules in the body and are involved in cellular metabolism, immunity, hormone secretion regulation, and other activities.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Carbohydrates and proteins are two of the most common types of macromolecules found in living organisms.

Synonyms

polymer
vsmacromolecule
  • Specialized
38 6.3

A very large molecule made of many small repeated parts, like plastics or proteins

includes those and other very large biomolecules not only repeating-chain substances
supermolecule
vsmacromolecule
  • Specialized
8.5

A very large structure made of many molecules, like DNA or proteins, in living things

is a single huge molecule built from many smaller subunits rather than whole molecules

How Big

polymer
  • Specialized
38 6.3
macromolecule
  • Specialized
1 7.3
oligomer
  • Specialized
1 8.9
molecule
11 3.1

Surface Forms

macromolecule singular

Morphology

macromolecule = molecule (transparent) = macro + molecule

The meaning is directly compositional: a macromolecule is simply a large molecule.

Etymology

Macromolecule comes from the prefix macro- meaning 'large' and the word molecule meaning 'a small unit of matter', so think of macro- as the opposite of micro- in microscope. So a macromolecule is a very large molecule made of many smaller parts.