metathesis
Americannoun
plural
metatheses-
the transposition of letters, syllables, or sounds in a word, as in the pronunciation for comfortable or for ask.
-
Chemistry. double decomposition.
noun
-
the transposition of two sounds or letters in a word
-
chem another name for double decomposition
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of metathesis
First recorded in 1530–40; from Late Latin: literally, “transposition of letters of a word,” from Greek metáthesis “transposition, change”; see meta-, thesis
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.
To this purpose, they employed both a chemical reaction called ring-closing metathesis and photocatalysis -- a process in which chemical reactions are promoted by light energy.
From Science Daily • May 2, 2024
Exploiting a process known as metathesis, in which carbon compounds exchange parts with one another, Grubbs showed how to create a broad range of new products, from environmentally friendly plastics to resins to pharmaceuticals.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2021
Schrock discovered that two metals, tungsten and molybdenum, were effective catalysts in producing metathesis, which means “changing places.”
From Washington Post • Dec. 25, 2021
What’s going on there is metathesis, and it’s a very common, perfectly natural process.
From The Guardian • Aug. 15, 2019
This form starc seems formed by metathesis from the above strac,—indeed, all the three forms, strang, strack, and stark, are etymologically very closely allied.
From Surnames as a Science by Ferguson, Robert
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.
