zwitterion

[ tsvit-er-ahy-uh n ]
/ ˈtsvɪt ərˌaɪ ən /

noun Physical Chemistry.

an ion with both a positive and a negative charge.

Origin of zwitterion

< German Zwitterion (1897), equivalent to Zwitter hybrid, hermaphrodite + Ion ion

OTHER WORDS FROM zwitterion

zwit·ter·i·on·ic [tsvit-er-ahy-on-ik] /ˌtsvɪt ər aɪˈɒn ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby zwitterion

zwieback, zwingli, zwinglian, zwischenzug, zwitter hypothesis, zwitterion, zwolle, zworykin, zyban, zydeco, zygal

British Dictionary definitions for zwitterion

zwitterion
/ (ˈtsvɪtərˌaɪən) /

noun

chem an ion that carries both a positive and a negative charge

Derived forms of zwitterion

zwitterionic (ˌtsvɪtəraɪˈɒnɪk), adjective

Word Origin for zwitterion

C20: from German Zwitter hermaphrodite + ion

Medical definitions for zwitterion

zwitterion
[ zwĭt′ər-ī′ən, swĭt′-, tsvĭt′- ]

n.

dipolar ion

Other words from zwitterion

zwit′ter•i•on′ic (-ī-ŏn′ĭk) adj.