metathesis

American  

[muh-tath-uh-sis] / məˈtæθ ə sɪs /

noun

plural

metatheses

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

• metathetic
  adjective
• metathetical
  adjective

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

Metathesis reactions are examined in the chapter on the stoichiometry of chemical reactions.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Mo and do are here changed, by Metathesis and the substitution of one broad vowel for another, into am and ad.

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander

Metathesis of r less extensive than in W. S.

From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by Flom, George Tobias

Metathesis is an exchange of atoms in two different compounds; it gives rise to still other compounds.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips