tropism

noun tro·pism \ˈtrō-ˌpi-zəm\

Definition of TROPISM

a : involuntary orientation by an organism or one of its parts that involves turning or curving by movement or by differential growth and is a positive or negative response to a source of stimulation

b : a reflex reaction involving a tropism

: an innate tendency to react in a definite manner to stimuli; broadly : a natural inclination : propensity <encouraged his tropism toward the theatrical — John Updike>

— tro·pis·tic \trō-ˈpis-tik\ adjective

See tropism defined for kids

Origin of TROPISM

International Scientific Vocabulary -tropism

First Known Use: 1899

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

Rhymes with TROPISM

abysm, ageism, autism, baalism, baptism, Birchism, bossism, bruxism, Buddhism, casteism, centrism, charism, Chartism, classism, cubism, cultism, czarism, deism, dwarfism, faddism, fauvism, Gaullism, Grecism, Hobbism, holism, Jainism, Klanism, leftism, lyrism, Mahdism, Maoism, Marxism, monism, mutism, Nazism, nudism, Orphism, priggism, purism, Ramism, rightism, sadism, Saivism, sapphism, Scotism, sexism, Shaktism, Shiism, Sikhism, simplism, snobbism, sophism, statism, Sufism, tachism, Tantrism, Taoism, theism, Thomism, tourism, truism, Turkism, verism, Whiggism, Yahwism

Medical Dictionary

tropism

noun tro·pism \ˈtrō-ˌpiz-əm\

Medical Definition of TROPISM

: involuntary orientation by an organism or one of its parts that involves turning or curving by movement or by differential growth and is a positive or negative response to a source of stimulation; also : a reflex reaction involving a tropism

—tro·pis·tic \trō-ˈpis-tik\ adjective