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allotropy

or al·lot·ro·pism

[uh-lo-truh-pee]
noun Chemistry.
  1. a property of certain elements, as carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus, of existing in two or more distinct forms; allomorphism.
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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 allotropy

Historical Examples

  • And this hypothesis is entirely in harmony with the phenomena of allotropy.

    Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative, Vol. I

    Herbert Spencer

  • This would be quite in accordance with the chemical notion of allotropy.

  • Allotropy has turned the eyes of many back to the remoter past.

    Jewel Mysteries

    Max Pemberton

  • Thus carbon occurs as the diamond, and as charcoal and plumbago, and is therefore regarded as a substance subject to allotropy.

  • Before leaving this phase of inorganic chemistry, we may mention other historical examples of allotropy.

British Dictionary definitions for allotropy

allotropy

allotropism

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