Library / English Dictionary

POLYMERIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Undergo polymerization

Synonyms:

polymerise; polymerize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "polymerize" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "polymerize"):

copolymerise; copolymerize (polymerize together)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

polymer (a naturally occurring or synthetic compound consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers)

polymerization (a chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer or polymeric compound)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause (a compound) to polymerize

Synonyms:

polymerise; polymerize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "polymerize" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Cause:

polymerise; polymerize (undergo polymerization)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

polymer (a naturally occurring or synthetic compound consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers)

polymerization (a chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer or polymeric compound)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Methyl methacrylate is a reactive resin, and the polymerized form is used as cement in dentistry, orthopaedic surgery and ophthalmology.

(Methyl Methacrylate, NCI Thesaurus)

A colloidal solution containing ferric oxyhydroxide complexed with polymerized dextran, used as a form of parenteral iron-replacement therapy.

(Iron Dextran Complex, NCI Thesaurus)

The complex polysaccharides starch and glycogen differ in their source and in their structure (they have different bonds between each individual sugar unit) but they are both composed entirely of glucose subunits polymerized together.

(Feeder Pathways for Glycolysis, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)