conjugation

American  

[kon-juh-gey-shuhn] / ˌkɒn dʒəˈgeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. Grammar.

   1. the inflection of verbs.

   2. the whole set of inflected forms of a verb or the recital or display thereof in a fixed order.

      The conjugation of the Latin verb amo begins amō, amas, amat.

   3. a class of verbs having similar sets of inflected forms.

      the Latin second conjugation.

2. an act of joining.

   a conjugation of related ideas.

3. the state of being joined together; union; conjunction.

4. Biology.

   1. the reproductive process in ciliate protozoans in which two organisms of different mating types exchange nuclear material through a temporary area of fusion.

   2. temporary union or permanent fusion as a form of sexual reproduction in certain algae and fungi, the male gametes of one organism uniting with female gametes of the other.

   3. a temporary union of two bacteria, in Escherichia and related groups, in which genetic material is transferred by migration of a plasmid, either solitary or as part of a chromosome, from one bacterium, the donor, to the other, the recipient; sometimes also including the transfer of resistance to antibiotics.

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conjugation British  

/ ˌkɒndʒʊˈɡeɪʃən /

noun

1. grammar

   1. inflection of a verb for person, number, tense, voice, mood, etc

   2. the complete set of the inflections of a given verb

2. a joining, union, or conjunction

3. a type of sexual reproduction in ciliate protozoans involving the temporary union of two individuals and the subsequent migration and fusion of the gametic nuclei

4. (in bacteria) the direct transfer of DNA between two cells that are temporarily joined

5. the union of gametes, esp isogametes, as in some algae and fungi

6. the pairing of chromosomes in the early phase of a meiotic division

7. chem the existence of alternating double or triple bonds in a chemical compound, with consequent electron delocalization over part of the molecule

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conjugation Scientific  

/ kŏn′jə-gā′shən /

1. A type of sexual reproduction in single-celled organisms, such as bacteria and some algae and fungi, in which two organisms or cells from the same species join together to exchange genetic material before undergoing cell division.

2. The fusion of two gametes to form a zygote, as in some algae and fungi.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• conjugationally
  adverb
• conjugational
  adjective
• nonconjugation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of conjugation

1400–50; late Middle English conjugacion (< Anglo-French ) < Late Latin conjugātiōn- (stem of conjugātiō ), equivalent to conjugāt ( us ) ( see conjugate) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Conjugation was known to be widespread and common among bacteria.

From New York Times • Aug. 13, 2018

Conjugation Publisher Hearst had the honor last week to announce the marriage of his Hearst's International and his Cosmopolitan magazines.

From Time Magazine Archive

Conjugation, of write, active voice, 88 ff.; of be, 104 ff.; of follow, passive voice, 105 ff.

From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose

Example of a verb of the First Conjugation.

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander

Conjugation probably arises from the general necessity of organisms to reënforce their race by variety.

From The Sexual Question A Scientific, psychological, hygienic and sociological study by Forel, Auguste