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thermotropism

American  
[ther-mo-truh-piz-uhm] / θərˈmɒ trəˌpɪz əm /

noun

Biology.
  1. oriented growth of an organism in response to heat.


thermotropism British  
/ ˌθɜːməʊˈtrəʊpɪzəm /

noun

  1. the directional growth of a plant in response to the stimulus of heat

"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

  • thermotropic adjective

Etymology

Origin of thermotropism

First recorded in 1885–90; thermo- + -tropism

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.

Several kinds of tropisms are recognized, such as phototropism or heliotropism, reaction to light; thermotropism, reaction to heat; electrotropism or galvanotropism, to electric current; geotropism, to gravity; chemotropism, to a chemical; rheotropism, to current; thigmotropism or stereotropism, to contact; and chromotropism, to color.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover we know from experiments on heliotropism, thermotropism, etc., that even intangible stimuli such as rays of light, etc., impinging unsymmetrically on these delicate cells cause alterations in their behaviour—e.g. arrest or acceleration of growth.

From Project Gutenberg