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

When two nearby ions attempt to share an electron across a bond, they may form what scientists call an atomic dimer.

From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026

Study results showed that PD-1 forms a dimer through interactions of its transmembrane segment.

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2024

The dimer is held together by two hydrogen bonds with a total strength of 66.5 kJ per mole of dimer.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

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