allotropy

or al·lot·ro·pism

[uh-lo-truh-pee]

noun Chemistry.

a property of certain elements, as carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus, of existing in two or more distinct forms; allomorphism.

Origin of allotropy

First recorded in 1840–50; allo- + -tropy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for allotropism

Historical Examples of allotropism

In what will these wonderful developments of allotropism end?
The Catholic World; Vol. IV.; October, 1866, to March, 1867.
E. Rameur
These facts of allotropism have some corollaries connected with them rather startling to us of the nineteenth century.
Medical Essays
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Perhaps they have not studied the mystery of allotropism in the emotions of the human heart.
Elsie Venner
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

British Dictionary definitions for allotropism

allotropy

allotropism

noun

the existence of an element in two or more physical forms. The most common elements having this property are carbon, sulphur, and phosphorus

Derived Formsallotropic (ˌæləˈtrɒpɪk), adjectiveallotropically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

allotropism in Medicine

allotropism

[ə-lŏt′rə-pĭz′əm]

The existence of two or more forms of an element that differ from one another in crystalline or molecular structure.