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polymer

polymer

38 6.3
A very large molecule made of many small repeated parts, like plastics or proteins
  • noun
  • /ˈpɒlɪmər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : polímero
  • All right, so every pentose in a DNA polymer is deoxyribose.
  • synthetic polymer
  • plastic polymer
  • natural polymer

I think you would think money is made of, like polymer.

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Examples

  • Here they take a polymer and they coat each side with carbon nanotubes.

  • Plastic bags are made from a type of polymer known for its flexibility and durability.

  • Looks like an everyday polymer to me.

  • Now I just want to get down some some polymer insights, OK?

  • What is it that dictates what a polymer will be like, right?

  • On one hand you want to make new polymers which are fully renewable.

  • That's the same polymer composite they use on the vehicle heat shields.

  • Then the monomers start reacting with each other, joining to form long polymer chains.

  • Although Samson's frame was constructed of lightweight polymers, he still weighed more than two hundred and fifty pounds.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The frames of light work-class ROVs may be made from polymers instead of stainless steel or aluminum alloys.

    Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

macromolecule
vspolymer
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A very large chemical made of many smaller parts like proteins or DNA

has repeating structural units joined in regular chains
long-chain molecule
vspolymer
  • Specialized
6.1

A very large group of atoms joined together in a long chain like in proteins or plastics

focuses on repeating monomers joined into very large structures rather than length

Compounds

silicone polymer
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A man-made material that stays stable in very hot or cold temperatures and is used for rubber, glue, and coatings

ion-exchange polymer
  • Specialized
6.9

A plastic material that removes minerals or metals from water by swapping charged particles with the liquid

vinyl polymer
  • Specialized
5.5

A strong plastic made from many small chemical parts often used for pipes and floors

How Large

macromolecule
  • Specialized
1 7.3
polymer
  • Specialized
38 6.3
oligomer
  • Specialized
1 8.9
monomer
  • Specialized
1 7.0

Surface Forms

polymer singular
polymers plural

Morphology

polymer = poly + mer

Although it contains the combining forms poly- and mer, the technical chemical meaning is not readily inferable for an average learner.

Etymology

Polymer comes from two Greek parts: poly- meaning 'many' and -mer meaning 'part', and you can see poly- in common words like polygon. So a polymer is literally 'many parts' joined together, which is why plastics and proteins are made of long chains of repeated units.