metathesis
[ muh-tath-uh-sis ]
/ məˈtæθ ə sɪs /
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noun, plural me·tath·e·ses [muh-tath-uh-seez] /məˈtæθ əˌsiz/.
the transposition of letters, syllables, or sounds in a word, as in the pronunciation [kuhmf-ter-buh l] /ˈkʌmf tər bəl/ for comfortable or [aks] /æks/ for ask.
Chemistry. double decomposition.
Nearby words
metatarsus varus, metate, metathalamus, metatheory, metatherian, metathesis, metathesize, metathorax, metatoluidine, metatrophic, metatropic dwarfism
Origin of metathesis
Related forms
met·a·thet·ic [met-uh-thet-ik] /ˌmɛt əˈθɛt ɪk/, met·a·thet·i·cal, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for metathesis
British Dictionary definitions for metathesis
metathesis
/ (mɪˈtæθəsɪs) /
noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)
the transposition of two sounds or letters in a word
chem another name for double decomposition
Derived Forms
metathetic (ˌmɛtəˈθɛtɪk) or metathetical, adjectiveWord Origin for metathesis
C16: from Late Latin, from Greek, from metatithenai to transpose
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medicine definitions for metathesis
metathesis
[ mĭ-tăth′ĭ-sĭs ]
n. pl. me•tath•e•ses (-sēz′)
Double decomposition of chemical compounds in which an element or radical of one compound exchanges places with another element or radical in another compound.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.