polymerization
Americannoun
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the act or process of forming a polymer or polymeric compound.
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the combination of many like or unlike molecules to form a more complex product of higher molecular weight, with elimination of water, alcohol, or the like condensation polymerization, or without such elimination addition polymerization.
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the conversion of one compound into another by such a process.
noun
Etymology
Origin of polymerization
First recorded in 1875–80; polymerize + -ation
Vocabulary lists containing polymerization
Chemistry - High School
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Organic Chemistry
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Biochemistry
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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.
The process, called polymerization, is often carried out using strong and sometimes toxic chemicals, which limits the ability to scale up the process and use the technology in e.g. medicine.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 15, 2025
The Campus Norrköping researchers, together with colleagues in Lund and New Jersey, have now succeeded in creating a method where polymerization can happen using visible light only.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 15, 2025
In this study, the researchers synthesized PSPBs with different molecular weights and added varying amounts of hydrophobic monomers individually and with different alkyl chains through a process known as reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization.
From Science Daily ● May 30, 2024
“They informed them that polymerization, they believed polymerization was not occurring, and there was no justification to do a vent and burn,” Homendy said.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2024
On a hunch I dropped in an aluminum alkyl, and then pushed the polymerization along with both ultraviolet and heat.
From The Professional Approach by John Schoenherr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
