palindrome

[ pal-in-drohm ]

noun
  1. a word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc., reading the same backward as forward, as Madam, I'm Adam or Poor Dan is in a droop.

  2. Biochemistry. a region of DNA in which the sequence of nucleotides is identical with an inverted sequence in the complementary strand: GAATTC is a palindrome of CTTAAG.

Origin of palindrome

1
First recorded in 1630–40; from Greek palíndromos “recurring,” equivalent to pálin “back, again” + -dromos “running, race” (see -drome)

Other words from palindrome

  • pa·lin·dro·mist [puh-lin-droh-mist], /pəˈlɪn droʊ mɪst/, noun
  • pal·in·drom·ic [pal-in-drom-ik, -droh-mik], /ˌpæl ɪnˈdrɒm ɪk, -ˈdroʊ mɪk/, pal·in·drom·i·cal, adjective
  • pal·in·drom·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby palindrome

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How to use palindrome in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for palindrome

palindrome

/ (ˈpælɪnˌdrəʊm) /


noun
  1. a word or phrase the letters of which, when taken in reverse order, give the same word or phrase, such as able was I ere I saw Elba

Origin of palindrome

1
C17: from Greek palindromos running back again, from palin again + -drome

Derived forms of palindrome

  • palindromic (ˌpælɪnˈdrɒmɪk), adjective

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