monomer

[mon-uh-mer] /ˈmɒn ə mər/
noun, Chemistry
1.
a molecule of low molecular weight capable of reacting with identical or different molecules of low molecular weight to form a polymer.
Origin
1910-15; mono- + -mer
Related forms
monomeric
[mon-uh-mer-ik] /ˌmɒn əˈmɛr ɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective
Examples from the web for monomer
  • Vinyl chloride monomer is the main raw material used in the production of polyvinyl chloride.
  • Isoprene is a monomer, which is a substance whose molecules can be linked together chemically to form a polymer.
  • Polymerizations that use only portions of a monomer, however, are known as condensation polymerizations.
British Dictionary definitions for monomer

monomer

/ˈmɒnəmə/
noun
1.
(chem) a compound whose molecules can join together to form a polymer
Derived Forms
monomeric (ˌmɒnəˈmɛrɪk) adjective
Word Origin and History for monomer
n.

1914, from mono- + Greek meros "part" (see merit (n.)). Related: Monomerous.

monomer in Medicine

monomer mon·o·mer (mŏn'ə-mər)
n.

  1. The molecular unit that joins with similar units to form a polymer.

  2. The protein structural unit of a virion capsid.

  3. The subunit of a protein composed of several such units loosely associated with one another.

monomer in Science
monomer
  (mŏn'ə-mər)   
A molecule that can combine with others of the same kind to form a polymer. Glucose molecules, for example, are monomers that can combine to form the polymer cellulose. Polymers can also be composed of different kinds of monomers.