chemistry
Americannoun
plural
chemistries-
the science that deals with the composition and properties of substances and various elementary forms of matter.
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chemical properties, reactions, phenomena, etc..
the chemistry of carbon.
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the interaction of one personality with another.
The chemistry between him and his boss was all wrong.
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sympathetic understanding; rapport.
the astonishing chemistry between the actors.
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any or all of the elements that make up something.
the chemistry of love.
noun
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the branch of physical science concerned with the composition, properties, and reactions of substances See also inorganic chemistry organic chemistry physical chemistry
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the composition, properties, and reactions of a particular substance
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the nature and effects of any complex phenomenon
the chemistry of humour
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informal a reaction, taken to be instinctual, between two persons
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The scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of the chemical elements and the compounds they form.
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The composition, structure, properties, and reactions of a substance.
Etymology
Origin of chemistry
First recorded in 1590–1600; chemist + -ry; replacing earlier chymistry, chimistry
Explanation
Chemistry is the science that tells us what things and people are made of; for example, that water is really H2O, two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Chemistry deals with chemicals and elements, the building blocks of our world. The periodic table, that table of all of earth's basic elements — iron, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, etc. — comes from chemistry. Chemistry explains how atoms attract each other to become molecules. We also use the term to refer to people who are attracted to each other, either as colleagues, friends or romantic partners. Movie reviewers often say that that romantic leads have "great chemistry" — or not.
Vocabulary lists containing chemistry
English Words Derived from Arabic
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Chemistry - Introductory
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Chemistry - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The chemistry that was supposed to make Madrid the most feared attack in Europe simply has not materialised.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
The reality is that Mendeleev had a contract to produce a chemistry textbook.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
And as in all her books, you’ll laugh at the pop culture nods and fan yourself through the chemistry — an ideal way to spend a summer night.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
Human blood, cellular fluids, and the chemistry that powers life all rely on carefully balanced flow properties.
From Science Daily • May 8, 2026
When she had to give up on that dream, she fell back on chemistry.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
