polymer

/ˈpɑləmər/

/ˈpɒlɪmə/

Other forms: polymers

A polymer is a very large, chain-like molecule made up of monomers, which are small molecules. It can be naturally occurring or synthetic.

What's a mer? — you might ask. Well, it means "part," and it works only as a suffix. Since poly- means "many," a polymer means "many parts." You'll find polymers everywhere: they're what make spandex stretch and sneakers bounce. They're the plastic drink bottles that you're always careful to recycle. Natural polymers include leather, rubber, and even the cellulose in your french fries and the protein in your chicken nuggets.

Definitions of polymer

1. noun

   a naturally occurring or synthetic compound consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers
   types:

   DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid

   (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information

   RNA, ribonucleic acid

   (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell; associated with the transmission of information from DNA to the cytoplasm

   synthetic resin

   a resin having a polymeric structure; especially a resin in the raw state; used chiefly in plastics

   copolymer

   a polymer consisting of two or more different monomers

   polyurethan, polyurethane

   any of various polymers containing the urethane radical; a wide variety of synthetic forms are made and used as adhesives or plastics or paints or rubber

   lignin

   a complex polymer; the chief constituent of wood other than carbohydrates; binds to cellulose fibers to harden and strengthen cell walls of plants

   polyamide, polymeric amide

   a polymer containing repeated amide groups

   silicone, silicone polymer

   any of a large class of siloxanes that are unusually stable over a wide range of temperatures; used in lubricants and adhesives and coatings and synthetic rubber and electrical insulation

   trimer

   a polymer (or a molecule of a polymer) consisting of three identical monomers

   operon

   a segment of DNA containing adjacent genes including structural genes and an operator gene and a regulatory gene

   acrylate resin, acrylic, acrylic resin

   a glassy thermoplastic; can be cast and molded or used in coatings and adhesives

   polyethylene, polythene

   a lightweight thermoplastic; used especially in packaging and insulation

   allyl resin

   a resin derived from allyl alcohol that hardens when cured; used as an adhesive

   bouncing putty

   a soft elastic silicone polymer that increases in elasticity with the application of force; used in the center of golf balls and as shock-absorbent padding

   cDNA, complementary DNA

   single-stranded DNA that is complementary to messenger RNA or DNA that has been synthesized from messenger RNA by reverse transcriptase

   episome

   DNA that is not incorporated into the genome but is replicated together with the genome (especially in bacterial cells)

   coding DNA, exon

   sequence of a gene's DNA that transcribes into protein structures

   intron, noncoding DNA

   sequence of a eukaryotic gene's DNA that is not translated into a protein

   junk DNA

   stretches of DNA that do not code for genes

   recombinant DNA, recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid

   genetically engineered DNA made by recombining fragments of DNA from different organisms

   sticky end

   an end of DNA in which one strand of the double helix extends a few units beyond the other

   jumping gene, transposon

   a segment of DNA that can become integrated at many different sites along a chromosome (especially a segment of bacterial DNA that can be translocated as a whole)

   informational RNA, mRNA, messenger RNA, template RNA

   the template for protein synthesis; the form of RNA that carries information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome sites of protein synthesis in the cell

   nRNA, nuclear RNA

   ribonucleic acid found in the nucleolus of the cell

   acceptor RNA, soluble RNA, tRNA, transfer RNA

   RNA molecules present in the cell (in at least 20 varieties, each variety capable of combining with a specific amino acid) that attach the correct amino acid to the protein chain that is being synthesized at the ribosome of the cell (according to directions coded in the mRNA)

   urea-formaldehyde resin

   a clear thermosetting resin made from urea and formaldehyde and used in electrical fittings, adhesives, and finishes

   alkyd, alkyd resin

   a durable synthetic resin widely used in adhesives and paints

   phenolic, phenolic resin, phenoplast

   a thermosetting resin

   epoxy, epoxy glue, epoxy resin

   a thermosetting resin; used chiefly in strong adhesives and coatings and laminates

   polyfoam, polyurethane foam

   a foam made by adding water to polyurethane plastics

   melamine resin

   a thermosetting resin formed from melamine and an aldehyde; used in molded products, adhesives, and coatings

   nylon

   a thermoplastic polyamide; a family of strong resilient synthetic fibers

   polyester

   any of numerous synthetic resins; they are light and strong and weather resistant

   polyvinyl resin, vinyl polymer, vinyl resin

   a thermoplastic derived by polymerization from compounds containing the vinyl group

   type of:

   chemical compound, compound

   (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight