metathesis

noun me·tath·e·sis \mə-ˈta-thə-səs\

plural me·tath·e·ses\-ˌsēz\

Definition of METATHESIS

: a change of place or condition: as

a : transposition of two phonemes in a word (as in the development of crud from curd or the pronunciation \ˈpər-tē\ for pretty)

b : a chemical reaction in which different kinds of molecules exchange parts to form other kinds of molecules

— met·a·thet·i·cal \ˌme-tə-ˈthe-ti-kəl\ or met·a·thet·ic \-tik\ adjective

— met·a·thet·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Late Latin, from Greek, from metatithenai to transpose, from meta- + tithenai to place — more at do

First Known Use: circa 1538

Medical Dictionary

noun me·tath·e·sis \mə-ˈtath-ə-səs\

plural me·tath·e·ses \-ˌsēz\

Next Word in the Dictionary: metathoraxPrevious Word in the Dictionary: metateAll Words Near: metathesis

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