Definition of polymers Polymers

/pɑˈlɪmɚz/ - [palimerz] -

We found 3 definitions of polymers from 2 different sources.

What does polymers mean?

Wiktionary

polymers (Noun)
Plural of polymer.

Part of speech

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polymers, noun, plural of polymer.

WordNet

Noun Plural: polymers
polymer - a naturally occurring or synthetic compound consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers
		chemical compound, compound an enclosure of residences and other building (especially in the Orient)
		deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid, dna (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; "DNA is the king of molecules"
		ribonucleic acid, rna (biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated with microsomes; it transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm and controls certain chemical processes in the cell; "ribonucleic acid is the genetic material of some viruses"
		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

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Wiktionary

polymer (Noun)
A long or larger molecule consisting of a chain or network of many repeating units, formed by chemical chemically bonding together many identical or similar small molecules called monomers. A polymer is formed by polymerization, the joining of many monomer molecules.
polymer (Noun)
A material consisting of such polymer molecules.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

polymer (n.)
Any one of two or more substances related to each other by polymerism; specifically, a substance produced from another substance by chemical polymerization.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

polymer
Substance made of giant molecules formed by the union of simple molecules (monomers).\n(Source: MGH)

Wikipedia

A polymer is a material which has larger molecules made from joining together many small molecules called monomers. The word "polymer" can be broken down into "poly" (meaning "many") and "mer" (meaning "unit"). This shows how the chemical composition of a polymer consists of many smaller units (monomers) bonded together into a larger molecule. A chemical reaction bonding monomers together to make a polymer is called polymerization.

Some polymers are natural. Proteins have polypeptide molecules, which are natural polymers made from various amino acid monomer units. Nucleic acids are natural polymers made up of nucleotide units. Cellulose and starch are also natural polymers made up of glucopyranose monomer bonded together in different ways. Some polymers are man-made. Plastics, rubber, and fibers are made up of polymers.

Make up of polymers.

If the "units" called monomers in a polymer are all the same, then the polymer is called a "homopolymer". Homopolymers are named by adding the prefix poly- before the monomer name from which the polymer is made. For example, a polymer made by bonding styrene monomer molecules together is called polystyrene.

If the "units" are not all the same, the polymer is called a "copolymer" or a "heteropolymer".

Many polymer molecules are like "chains" where the monomer units are the links. Polymer molecules can be straight-chain, have "branching" from the main chain, or "cross-linking" between chains. For an example of cross-linking, sulfhydryl (-S-H