dimer

American  

[dahy-mer] / ˈdaɪ mər /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a molecule composed of two identical, simpler molecules.

2. a polymer derived from two identical monomers.

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dimer British  

/ ˈdaɪmə /

noun

1. chem

   1. a molecule composed of two identical simpler molecules (monomers)

   2. a compound consisting of dimers

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dimer Scientific  

/ dī′mər /

1. Any of various chemical compounds made of two smaller identical or similar molecules (called monomers) that are linked together. Dimers are linked by hydrogen bonds, coordinate bonds, or covalent bonds. Sucrose is a dimer composed of the monomers glucose and fructose.

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Other Word Forms

• dimeric adjective

Etymology

Origin of dimer

First recorded in 1905–10; di- ¹ + -mer

Example Sentences

Both versions of the verticillin molecule are built from two identical halves that must be connected into a structure called a dimer.

From Science Daily • Dec. 22, 2025

Many immune receptors function in pairs called dimers, but to date, PD-1 has been thought to function alone, not in the dimer form.

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2024

RAS, when bound to GTP, does not form a dimer after binding to the ligand but stimulates downstream signaling to occur and causes uncontrolled cell division.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

It makes Boss Tweed look like a nickle and dimer.

From New York Times • Oct. 26, 2016

From the strong ion enhancement of nucleation we conclude that the APi-TOF mass peaks above the dimer in Fig.

From Nature • May 24, 2016