zwitterion

[tsvit-er-ahy-uh n]

noun Physical Chemistry.

an ion with both a positive and a negative charge.

Origin of zwitterion

< German Zwitterion (1897), equivalent to Zwitter hybrid, hermaphrodite + Ion ion

Related formszwit·ter·i·on·ic

[tsvit-er-ahy-on-ik] /ˌtsvɪt ər aɪˈɒn ɪk/, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for zwitterion

zwitterion

noun

chem an ion that carries both a positive and a negative charge

Derived Formszwitterionic (ˌtsvɪtəraɪˈɒnɪk), adjective

Word Origin for zwitterion

C20: from German Zwitter hermaphrodite + ion

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

zwitterion in Medicine

zwitterion

[zwĭt′ər-ī′ən, swĭt′-, tsvĭt′-]

n.

dipolar ion

Related formszwit′ter•i•on′ic (-ī-ŏn′ĭk) adj.