oligomer

[ uh-lig-uh-mer ]
/ əˈlɪg ə mər /

noun Chemistry.

a polymer molecule consisting of a small number of monomers.
Compare dimer, tetramer, trimer.

Origin of oligomer

First recorded in 1965–70; oligo- + -mer

OTHER WORDS FROM oligomer

o·lig·o·mer·ic [uh-lig-uh-mer-ik] /əˌlɪg əˈmɛr ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby oligomer

oligogalactia, oligogene, oligohydramnios, oligohydruria, oligomenorrhea, oligomer, oligomerous, oligomorphic, oligonucleotide, oligopeptide, oligophagous

British Dictionary definitions for oligomer

oligomer
/ (ɒˈlɪɡəmə) /

noun

a compound of relatively low molecular weight containing up to five monomer units Compare polymer, copolymer

Word Origin for oligomer

C20: from oligo- + -mer, as in polymer

Scientific definitions for oligomer

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.