allele

al·lele

noun \ə-ˈlē(ə)l\

Definition of ALLELE

1

: any of the alternative forms of a gene that may occur at a given locus

2

: either of a pair of alternative Mendelian characters (as ability versus inability to taste the chemical phenylthiocarbamide)

—al·le·lic \-ˈlē-lik, -ˈlel-ik\ adjective

—al·lel·ism \-ˈlē(ə)l-ˌiz-əm, -ˈlel-ˌiz-\ noun