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 formation process, known as polymerization, is often carried out with strong or toxic chemicals, which restricts both scaling and the safe use of the materials in areas such as medicine.
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
Additionally, the researchers demonstrated overprinting of a ball lens onto an optical fiber, which was previously only possible using an additive manufacturing technique known as two-photon polymerization.
From Science Daily ● May 9, 2024
They have not yet discovered in all cases how to undo the process of polymerization, or, if you prefer the financial phrase, how to unscramble the eggs.
From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Slosson, Edwin E.
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.
