metathesis

American  

[muh-tath-uh-sis] / məˈtæθ ə sɪs /

noun

metatheses plural

1. the transposition of letters, syllables, or sounds in a word, as in the pronunciation for comfortable or for ask.

2. Chemistry. double decomposition.

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metathesis British  

/ mɪˈtæθəsɪs, ˌmɛtəˈθɛtɪk /

noun

1. the transposition of two sounds or letters in a word

2. chem another name for double decomposition

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• metathetic
  adjective
• metathetical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• metatheses
  plural

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

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

CROCODILE, a name for certain reptiles, taken from ancient Gr. κορδύλος, signifying lizard and newt; with reduplication κορκορδύλος, and by metathesis ultimately κροκόδειλος.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6 "Coucy-le-Château" to "Crocodile" by Various