polymer (n.)

a substance built from a large number of simple molecules of the same kind, 1855, probably from German Polymere (Berzelius, 1830), from Greek polymeres "having many parts," from polys "many" (from PIE root *pele- (1) "to fill") + meros "part" (from PIE root *(s)mer- (2) "to get a share of something").

also from 1855

Entries linking to polymer

polyester (n.)

1929, "a polymer in which the units are joined by the ester linkage," formed from polymer + ester. Man-made polyester fiber was discovered in 1941.

polymerase (n.)

"enzyme which catalyzes the formation of a polymer," 1866, coined by Berzelius (1830) from polymer + -ase.

See all related words (12) >

Trends of polymer

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

More to Explore

latex

Meaning "water-dispersed polymer particles" (used in rubber goods, paints, etc.) is from 1937....

and

Old English and, ond, originally meaning "thereupon, next," from Proto-Germanic *unda (source also of Old Saxon endi, Old Frisian anda, Middle Dutch ende, Old High German enti, German und, Old Norse enn), from PIE root *en "in." Introductory use (implying connection to something

compound

late 14c., compounen, "to put together, to mix, to combine; to join, couple together," from Old French compondre, componre "arrange, direct," and directly from Latin componere "to put together," from com "with, together" (see com-) + ponere "to place" (see position (n.)). The une

Geronimo

cry made in jumping, 1944 among U.S. airborne soldiers, apparently from the story of the Apache leader Geronimo making a daring leap to escape U.S. cavalry pursuers at Medicine Bluffs, Oklahoma (and supposedly shouting his name in defiance as he did). Adopted as battle cry by par

intervention

early 15c., intervencioun, "intercession, intercessory prayer," Late Latin interventionem (nominative interventio) "an interposing, a giving security," literally "a coming between," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin intervenire "to come between, interrupt," from i

vintage

early 15c., "harvest of grapes, yield of wine from a vineyard," from Anglo-French vintage (mid-14c.), from Old French vendage, vendenge "vine-harvest, yield from a vineyard," from Latin vindemia "a gathering of grapes, yield of grapes," from combining form of vinum "wine" (see wi

exquisite

early 15c., "carefully selected," from Latin exquisitus "choice," literally "carefully sought out," from past participle stem of exquirere "search out thoroughly," from ex "out" (see ex-) + quaerere "to seek" (see query (v.)). Originally in English of any thing (good or bad, tort

quench

Middle English quenchen, "to extinguish, put out" (heat, light, fire, also of desire, hunger, thirst), also figurative, "to bring to naught, eliminate, render ineffectual" (c. 1200), Old English acwencan "to quench" (of fire, light), from Proto-Germanic *kwenkjanan, probably a ca

abound

"be in great plenty," early 14c., from Old French abonder "to abound, be abundant, come together in great numbers" (12c.), from Latin abundare "overflow, run over," from Latin ab "off, away from" (see ab-) + undare "rise in a wave," from unda "a wave" (from PIE *unda-, nasalized

curry

late 13c., "to rub down a horse," from Anglo-French curreier "to curry-comb a horse," from Old French correier "put in order, prepare, curry," from con-, intensive prefix (see com-), + reier "arrange," from a Germanic source (see ready). Related: Curried; currying. To curry favor

Share polymer

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/polymer

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/polymer">Etymology of polymer by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of polymer. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/polymer

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of polymer,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/polymer.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of polymer.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/polymer. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of polymer.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/polymer (accessed $(datetime)).

updated on January 29, 2018

Remove ads >

Dictionary entries near polymer

polygyny

polyhedral

polyhedron

polyhistor

polymath

polymer

polymerase

polymeric

polymerism

polymerization

polymerize