polymer

polymer
A substance of high molecular weight, made up of a chain of repeated units sometimes called “mers.” SEE ALSO: biopolymer. [see -mer (1)]
- cross-linked p. a p. in which long-chain molecules are attached to each other, forming a two- or three-dimensional network. SYN: cross-linked resin.

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poly·mer 'päl-ə-mər n a chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of repeating structural units

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n.
a substance formed by the linkage of a large number of smaller molecules known as monomers. An example of a monomer is glucose, whose molecules link together to form glycogen, a polymer. Polymers may have molecular weights from a few thousands to many millions. Polymers made up of a single type of monomer are known as homopolymers; those of two or more monomers as heteropolymers.

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poly·mer (polґĭ-mər) [poly- + Gr. meros part] a compound formed by the joining of smaller molecules, referred to as monomers. The term is generally used to refer either to a macromolecule made up of a large number of monomers linked by covalent bonds, e.g., polypeptides, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and plastics, or to a protein made up of several subunits linked by covalent or noncovalent bonds, e.g., hemoglobin or IgM immunoglobulin.

The polymer cellulose consists of linked repeating units of the monomer β-D-glucose.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Polymer — Pol y*mer, n. [See {Polymeric}.] (Chem.) Any one of two or more substances related to each other by polymerism; specifically, a substance produced from another substance by chemical polymerization. [Formerly also written polymere.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • polymer — polymer. См. полимер. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Polymer — (v. gr.), vieltheilig, theilbar, mannigfaltig; Polymerer Isomorphismus, ein Isomorphismus, bei welchem mehre Atome der einen Substanz mit einem Atom (od. einer verschiedenen Anzahl von Atomen) als isomorph vorausgesetzt werden. Scheerer stellte… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Polymēr — (griech.), vielgliederig; polymere Körper, Polymerie, s. Isomerie …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • polymer — (n.) a substance built from a large number of simple molecules of the same kind, 1866, probably from Ger. Polymere (Berzelius, 1830), from Gk. polymeres having many parts, from polys many (see POLY (Cf. poly )) + meros part (see MERIT (Cf. merit) …   Etymology dictionary

  • polymer — ► NOUN Chemistry ▪ a substance with a molecular structure formed from many identical small molecules bonded together. DERIVATIVES polymeric adjective polymerize (also polymerise) verb. ORIGIN from Greek polumeros having many parts …   English terms dictionary

  • polymer — [päl′ə mər] n. [Ger < Gr polymerēs, of many parts: see POLY & MEROUS] a naturally occurring or synthetic substance consisting of giant molecules formed from polymerization …   English World dictionary

  • Polymer — Appearance of real linear polymer chains as recorded using an atomic force microscope on surface under liquid medium. Chain contour length for this polymer is 204 nm; thickness is 0.4 nm.[1] A polymer is a large molecule (macromolecule …   Wikipedia

  • Polymer — Ein Polymer [polyˈmeːr] (griech. πολύ poly „viel“; μέρος méros „Teil“) ist eine chemische Verbindung aus Ketten oder verzweigten Molekülen (Makromolekülen), die wiederum aus gleichen oder gleichartigen Einheiten, den sogenannten Monomeren,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • polymer — /pol euh meuhr/, n. Chem. 1. a compound of high molecular weight derived either by the addition of many smaller molecules, as polyethylene, or by the condensation of many smaller molecules with the elimination of water, alcohol, or the like, as… …   Universalium

  • polymer — branched polymer crosslinked polymer network polymer …   Mechanics glossary

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