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steric

American  
[ster-ik, steer-] / ˈstɛr ɪk, ˈstɪər- /
Sometimes sterical

adjective

Chemistry.
  1. of or relating to the spatial relationships of atoms in a molecule.


steric British  
/ ˈstɪər-, ˈstɛrɪk /

adjective

  1. chem of, concerned with, or caused by the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule

"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

  • sterically adverb

Etymology

Origin of steric

First recorded in 1895–1900; ster(eo)- + -ic

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.

By introducing steric hindrance from these pendant groups, the team successfully suppressed the stacking of two-dimensional polymer intermediates during the polymerization of triazacoronene monomers.

From Science Daily

In a paper published this week in Science, researchers show they are able to bypass the need for steric control and directing groups to induce cobalt-catalyzed borylation that is meta-selective.

From Science Daily

Owing to the small size of fluorine atoms, the electron-accepting ability of the NHC ligand can be enhanced without substantially changing its steric properties.

From Science Daily

They focused on the steric structure of the gastric proton pump, a complex protein structure in the stomach lining that transports the H+ protons that make up HCl, the acid that makes up gastric acid.

From Science Daily

The successful sieving of the fuel molecules is achieved via selective proton transfers due to steric hindrance on holey graphene sheets that have chemical functionalization and act as proton-exchange membranes.

From Science Daily