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trophallaxis

[trof-uh-lak-sis, troh-fuh-]
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noun, plural troph·al·lax·es [trof-uh-lak-seez, troh-fuh-] /ˌtrɒf əˈlæk siz, ˌtroʊ fə-/.
  1. (among social insects) the exchange of nutriments or other secretions between members of a colony.
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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
Related formstroph·al·lac·tic [trof-uh-lak-tik, troh-fuh-] /ˌtrɒf əˈlæk tɪk, ˌtroʊ fə-/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for trophallaxis

trophallaxis

noun
  1. the exchange of regurgitated food that occurs between adults and larvae in colonies of social insects
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Derived Formstrophallactic, adjective

Word Origin

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