trophallaxis

[ trof-uh-lak-sis, troh-fuh- ]

/ ˌtrɒf əˈlæk sɪs, ˌtroʊ fə- /

noun, plural troph·al·lax·es [trof-uh-lak-seez, troh-fuh-] /ˌtrɒf əˈlæk siz, ˌtroʊ fə-/.

(among social insects) the exchange of nutriments or other secretions between members of a colony.

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transliterate

to remove or destroy all traces of.

to change (letters, words, etc.), into corresponding characters of another alphabet or language.

to explain in terms that can be more easily understood.

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Origin of trophallaxis

1915–20; troph- + Greek állaxis exchange, equivalent to allak- (verbid stem of allássein to change; see allo-) + -sis -sis

OTHER WORDS FROM trophallaxis

troph·al·lac·tic

[trof-uh-lak-tik, troh-fuh-] /ˌtrɒf əˈlæk tɪk, ˌtroʊ fə-/, adjective

Words nearby trophallaxis

tropaion, trope, tropeolin, troph-, trophaeum, trophallaxis, trophectoderm, trophedema, trophesy, trophi, trophic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for trophallaxis

trophallaxis

/ (ˌtrɒfəˈlæksɪs) /

noun

the exchange of regurgitated food that occurs between adults and larvae in colonies of social insects

Derived forms of trophallaxis

trophallactic, adjective

Word Origin for trophallaxis

C19/20: from New Latin, from tropho- + Greek allaxis exchange, from allassein to change, from allos other

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