geotropism

[ jee-o-truh-piz-uhm ]

nounBiology.
  1. oriented growth with respect to the force of gravity.

Origin of geotropism

1
First recorded in 1870–75; geo- + -tropism

Words Nearby geotropism

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How to use geotropism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for geotropism

geotropism

/ (dʒɪˈɒtrəˌpɪzəm) /


noun
  1. the response of a plant part to the stimulus of gravity. Plant stems, which grow upwards irrespective of the position in which they are placed, show negative geotropism

Derived forms of geotropism

  • geotropic (ˌdʒiːəʊˈtrɒpɪk), adjective
  • geotropically, 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

Scientific definitions for geotropism

geotropism

[ jē-ŏtrə-pĭz′əm ]


  1. The directional growth of an organism in response to gravity. Roots display positive geotropism when they grow downwards, while shoots display negative geotropism when they grow upwards. Also called gravitropism

Other words from geotropism

  • geotropic adjective (jē′ə-trōpĭk, jē′ə-trŏpĭk)

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