abscisic acid

noun

ab·​scis·​ic acid ˌab-ˈsi-zik- How to pronounce abscisic acid (audio)
-sik-
: a plant hormone C15H20O4 that is a sesquiterpene widespread in nature and that typically promotes leaf abscission and dormancy and has an inhibitory effect on cell elongation

Examples of abscisic acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Biology category winner Israel Sampaio Filho, National Institute of Amazonian Research, Leaf abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis: the main source of Amazon rainforest response to warming Abscisic Acid (ABA) at the Heart of Amazon Rainforest Response to Warming. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 Mar. 2023 In a natural system of stress hormones and receptors, the hormone abscisic acid is produced by a plant and binds to receptors during droughts, which help tell the plant to close its pores to retain more water. Jules Struck, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2023 Arabidopsis, like all plants, uses a hormone called abscisic acid, or ABA, to send alerts when it’s stressed by conditions like cold, drought, or changes in soil chemistry. WIRED, 30 Oct. 2023 Notably, the genes related to the synthesis of a major hormone responsible for plant stress responses and signaling called abscisic acid (ABA) have also been lost in Balanophora and Sapria. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Sep. 2023 Biology category winner Israel Sampaio Filho, National Institute of Amazonian Research, Leaf abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis: the main source of Amazon rainforest response to warming Abscisic Acid (ABA) at the Heart of Amazon Rainforest Response to Warming. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 Mar. 2023 The researchers compared how different plants within this family responded to the release of abscisic acid. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 2 May 2022 The older trees had lower levels of a growth hormone called indole-3-acetic acid and higher levels of a growth-inhibiting hormone called abscisic acid. Erin Malsbury, Science | AAAS, 13 Jan. 2020 The seed has two hormones: abscisic acid (ABA), which sends the signal to stay dormant, and gibberellin (GA), which initiates germination. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 9 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abscisic acid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

abscision (variant of abscission) + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abscisic acid was in 1968

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Cite this Entry

“Abscisic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abscisic%20acid. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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