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metathesis

[ muh-tath-uh-sis ]

noun

, plural me·tath·e·ses [m, uh, -, tath, -, uh, -seez].
  1. the transposition of letters, syllables, or sounds in a word, as in the pronunciation [kuhmf, -ter-b, uh, l] for comfortable or [aks] for ask.


metathesis

/ mɪˈtæθəsɪs; ˌmɛtəˈθɛtɪk /

noun

  1. the transposition of two sounds or letters in a word
  2. chem another name for double decomposition
“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
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Derived Forms

  • metathetic, adjective
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Other Words From

  • met·a·thet·ic [met-, uh, -, thet, -ik], meta·theti·cal adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of metathesis1

First recorded in 1530–40; from Late Latin: literally, “transposition of letters of a word,” from Greek metáthesis “transposition, change”; meta-, thesis
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Word History and Origins

Origin of metathesis1

C16: from Late Latin, from Greek, from metatithenai to transpose
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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.

A sports manufacturer has developed a plastic baseball bat from compounds created through metathesis.

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.

What’s going on there is metathesis, and it’s a very common, perfectly natural process.

He found the freedom to choose his research when he joined the French Petroleum Institute in 1960, and it led to his breakthrough on metathesis.

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