bivalent

American  

[bahy-vey-luhnt, biv-uh-] / baɪˈveɪ lənt, ˈbɪv ə- /

adjective

1. Chemistry.

   1. having a valence of two.

   2. having two valences, as aluminum with valences of two and three.

2. Genetics. pertaining to associations of two homologous chromosomes.

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noun

1. Genetics. a pair of bivalent chromosomes, especially when pairing during meiosis.

bivalent British  

/ baɪˈveɪlənt, ˈbɪvə- /

adjective

1. chem another word for divalent

2. (of homologous chromosomes) associated together in pairs

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noun

1. a structure formed during meiosis consisting of two homologous chromosomes associated together

bivalent Scientific  

/ bī-vā′lənt /

1. Chemistry Having a valence of 2.

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Other Word Forms

• bivalence noun
• bivalency noun

Etymology

Origin of bivalent

First recorded in 1865–70; bi- ¹ + -valent

Example Sentences

Overall, antibodies produced by serum from the bivalent vaccine-dosed health care professionals were more efficient at neutralizing BA.2.86 than they were at neutralizing other omicron variants, including XBB.1.5.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2024

Among those who had received the recently released bivalent booster vaccine, it was zero.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2023

Uptake in Texas is already low, with fewer than 4% of residents getting the bivalent booster that rolled out last year.

From Salon • Nov. 16, 2023

As the first vaccine’s potency waned with newer omicron variants, a bivalent booster was approved in August 2022 that targeted the initial virus and BA.5, which was dominant at the time.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 11, 2023

Ionium expels an alpha particle and becomes radium, which is a bivalent element resembling barium belonging to the second group.

From A Brief Account of Radio-activity by Venable, Francis Preston