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nucleophilic

American

[noo-klee-uh-fil-ik, nyoo-] / ˌnu kli əˈfɪl ɪk, ˌnyu- /

adjective

Chemistry.

of or relating to electron contribution in covalent bonding (opposed to electrophilic).

nucleophilic British

/ ˌnjuːklɪəʊˈfɪlɪk /

adjective

chem having or involving an affinity for positive charge. Nucleophilic reagents ( nucleophiles ) are molecules, atoms, and ions that behave as electron donors Compare electrophilic

"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

Other Word Forms

nucleophile

noun

Etymology

Origin of nucleophilic

First recorded in 1930–35; nucleo- + -philic

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.

After the first tetradepsipeptide has been loaded onto the nucleophilic residue in the thioesterase domain, the second tetradepsipeptide arrives at the thioesterase active site, attached to the carrier domain.

From Nature • Dec. 11, 2018

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023