allotropy

or al·lot·ro·pism

[ uh-lo-truh-pee ]
/ əˈlɒ trə pi /

noun Chemistry.

a property of certain elements, as carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus, of existing in two or more distinct forms; allomorphism.

Origin of allotropy

First recorded in 1840–50; allo- + -tropy

Words nearby allotropy

allotrope, allotrophic, allotropic, allotropism, allotropous, allotropy, allottee, allotype, allover, allow, allow for

Example sentences from the Web for allotropism

  • Perhaps they have not studied the mystery of allotropism in the emotions of the human heart.

    Elsie Venner |Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

  • These facts of allotropism have some corollaries connected with them rather startling to us of the nineteenth century.

    Medical Essays |Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

  • In what will these wonderful developments of allotropism end?

    The Catholic World; Vol. IV.; October, 1866, to March, 1867. |E. Rameur

British Dictionary definitions for allotropism

allotropy

allotropism

/ (əˈlɒtrəpɪ) /

noun

the existence of an element in two or more physical forms. The most common elements having this property are carbon, sulphur, and phosphorus

Derived forms of allotropy

allotropic (ˌæləˈtrɒpɪk), adjective allotropically, adverb

Medical definitions for allotropism

allotropism
[ ə-lŏt′rə-pĭz′əm ]

n.

The existence of two or more forms of an element that differ from one another in crystalline or molecular structure.