oligomer

[uh-lig-uh-mer] /əˈlɪg ə mər/
noun, Chemistry
1.
a polymer molecule consisting of a small number of monomers.
Compare dimer, tetramer, trimer.
Origin
1965-70; oligo- + -mer
Related forms
oligomeric
[uh-lig-uh-mer-ik] /əˌlɪg əˈmɛr ɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective
Examples from the web for oligomer
  • oligomer-linked diseases are relatively common, in part because oligomers can also play an essential biological role in the brain.
British Dictionary definitions for oligomer

oligomer

/ɒˈlɪɡəmə/
noun
1.
a compound of relatively low molecular weight containing up to five monomer units Compare polymer, copolymer
Word Origin
C20: from oligo- + -mer, as in polymer
oligomer in Science
oligomer
  (ə-lĭg'ə-mər)   
A molecule that consists of a relatively small and specifiable number of monomers (usually less than five). Unlike a polymer, if one of the monomers is removed from an oligomer, its chemical properties are altered.