sticky end

American  

noun

Genetics, Biotechnology.

1. a single-stranded end of DNA or RNA having a nucleotide base sequence complementary to that of another strand, enabling the two strands to be connected by base pairing: produced in the laboratory with the use of restriction enzymes for genetic engineering purposes.

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sticky end British  

noun

1. informal an unpleasant finish or death (esp in the phrase come to or meet a sticky end )

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Etymology

Origin of sticky end

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sticky end

Despite the social media teasers showing celebrities with pots of jam from Meghan, the previous brand name American Riviera Orchard seems to have reached a sticky end.

From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2025

I am also concerned that a very large dog with very bad to no training is going to come to a sticky end, through no fault of his own.

From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2020

She will next be seen on the silver screen playing a “very nice English nanny” who meets a sticky end in 2018’s “Jurassic World.”

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2018

And that’s ridiculous, because you know that it’s going to come to a terrible, sticky end.

From New York Times ● Oct. 12, 2017

The poor astronaut who falls into a black hole will still come to a sticky end; only if he lived in imaginary time would he encounter no singularities.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking