# polymer
## English
### Etymology

From poly- +‎ -mer, from Ancient Greek πολύς (polús, “many”) + μέρος (méros, “part”). Coined by Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1833, though his definition was quite different from the modern one.

### Pronunciation

* (UK) IPA: /ˈpɒl.ɨ.mə/
* (US) IPA: /ˈpɑ.lɪ.mɚ/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Hyphenation: poly‧mer

### Noun

polymer (countable and uncountable, plural polymers)
* (organic chemistry) A long or larger molecule consisting of a chain or network of many repeating units, formed by chemically bonding together many identical or similar small molecules called monomers. A polymer is formed by polymerization, the joining of many monomer molecules.
    Hypernyms: molecule; compound
    Coordinate terms: monomer; oligomer; dimer, trimer, tetramer, pentamer, hexamer, heptamer, septamer, octamer, nonamer, decamer (etc, n+1)
* A material consisting of such polymer molecules.
** 2000 October 1, Suda Kiatkamjornwong, Wararuk Chomsaksakul, Manit Sonsuk, “Radiation modification of water absorption of cassava starch by acrylic acid/acrylamide”, in Radiation Physics and Chemistry, volume 59, number 4, →DOI, page 423:The water absorbency of the anionically starch-grafted AA/AM absorbent is markedly affected by the pH of the buffer solution at different ionic strengths. The charge of the ionic monomer affects the pH sensitivity of the superabsorbent polymers. An acidic superabsorbent normally ionizes at high pH but unionizes at low pH.
** 2013 May-June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 200:Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.

#### Hyponyms

* biopolymer
* block polymer
* copolymer
* exopolymer
* geopolymer
* glycopolymer
* graft polymer
* heteropolymer
* homopolymer
* hydropolymer
* hydroxypolymer
* hyperpolymer
* inorganic polymer
* interpolymer
* intrapolymer
* lipopolymer
* macropolymer
* metallopolymer
* micropolymer
* monopolymer
* multipolymer
* nanopolymer
* oligopolymer
* photopolymer
* piezopolymer
* ribopolymer
* star polymer
* stereospecific polymer
* technopolymer
* terpolymer
* thermopolymer
* tribopolymer
* tripolymer

#### Derived terms

* autopolymer
* azopolymer
* biopolymer
* bipolymer
* block polymer
* ceramer
* colestipol
* copolymer
* exopolymer
* fluoropolymer
* geopolymer
* glycopolymer
* graft polymer
* halato-telechelic polymer
* halfmer
* heteropolymer
* hexapolymer
* homopolymer
* hydropolymer
* hydroxypolymer
* hyperpolymer
* inorganic polymer
* interpolymer
* intrapolymer
* lipopolymer
* macropolymer
* metallopolymer
* micropolymer
* monopolymer
* multipolymer
* nanopolymer
* oligopolymer
* photopolymer
* piezopolymer
* polymerase
* polymeric
* polymerics
* polymeride
* polymerise
* polymerism
* polymerization
* polymerize
* polymerlike
* polymerogenic
* polymerone
* polymerous
* polymersome
* polyplex
* prepolymer
* ribopolymer
* silane-modified polymer
* star polymer
* stereospecific polymer
* superpolymer
* technopolymer
* terpolymer
* thermopolymer
* tribopolymer
* tripolymer

#### Related terms

* multimer

#### See also

* plastic (many artificial polymers are plastics)

## Czech
### Noun

polymer m inan
* polymer

#### Declension
### Further reading

* “polymer”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
* “polymer”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989

## German
### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)

### Adjective

polymer (strong nominative masculine singular polymerer, not comparable)
* polymeric

#### Declension
### Further reading

* “polymer” in Duden online
* “polymer” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

## Norwegian Bokmål
### Etymology

From poly- +‎ Ancient Greek μέρος (méros, “part”).

### Noun

polymer m (definite singular polymeren, indefinite plural polymerer, definite plural polymerene)
* a polymer

#### Derived terms

* polymerisere

### References

* “polymer” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

## Norwegian Nynorsk
### Etymology

From poly- +‎ Ancient Greek μέρος (méros, “part”).

### Noun

polymer m (definite singular polymeren, indefinite plural polymerar, definite plural polymerane)
* a polymer

#### Derived terms

* polymerisere

### References

* “polymer” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.