depolymerize

verb de·po·ly·mer·ize \(ˌ)dē-pə-ˈli-mə-ˌrīz, -ˈpä-lə-mə-\

Definition of DEPOLYMERIZE

transitive verb

: to decompose (macromolecules) into simpler compounds (as monomers)

intransitive verb

: to undergo decomposition into simpler compounds

— de·po·ly·mer·i·za·tion \ˌdē-pə-ˌli-mə-rə-ˈzā-shən, (ˌ)dē-ˌpä-lə-mə-rə-\ noun

circa 1909

Medical Dictionary

verb de·po·ly·mer·ize

de·po·ly·mer·ized or British de·po·ly·mer·isedde·po·ly·mer·iz·ing or British de·po·ly·mer·is·ing

transitive verb

: to decompose (macromolecules) into relatively simple compounds (as monomers) <depolymerized nucleic acids>

intransitive verb

: to undergo decomposition into simpler compounds

—de·po·ly·mer·iza·tion or British de·po·ly·mer·isa·tion \ˌdē-pə-ˌlim-ə-rə-ˈzā-shən, (ˌ)dē-ˌpäl-ə-mə-rə-\ noun

de·po·ly·mer·ize or British de·po·ly·mer·ise \(ˈ)dē-pə-ˈlim-ə-ˌrīz, -ˈpäl-ə-mə-\

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