thigmotropism

American  

[thig-mo-truh-piz-uhm] / θɪgˈmɒ trəˌpɪz əm /

noun

Biology.

1. oriented growth of an organism in response to mechanical contact, as a plant tendril coiling around a string support.

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thigmotropism British  

/ ˌθɪɡməʊˈtrəʊpɪzəm /

noun

1. Also called: haptotropism.   stereotropism.  the directional growth of a plant, in response to the stimulus of direct contact

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Other Word Forms

• thigmotropic adjective

Etymology

Origin of thigmotropism

First recorded in 1890–95; from Greek thígm(a) “a touch” + -o- ( def. ) + -tropism

Example Sentences

The movement of a plant subjected to constant directional pressure is called thigmotropism, from the Greek words thigma meaning “touch,” and tropism implying “direction.”

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Examples include vines and climbing plants that exhibit thigmotropism when encountering objects like trees or trellises and wrapping themselves around them.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

Some plants respond to touch, a process called thigmotropism.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018