cross-link

noun

: a crosswise connecting part (such as an atom or group) that connects parallel chains in a complex chemical molecule (such as a polymer)
cross-link verb

Examples of cross-link in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Likewise, many companies deploy behavior-tracking tools for analytics, but few question how this data might be repurposed or cross-linked. Sarah Choudhary, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025 As the skin transitions to adulthood, fibroblasts work to cross-link those collagen bundles. Alison Escalante, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 To strengthen their glue, mussels use two chemical groups, called catechols and thiols, which cross-link like the hooks and loops of Velcro. Michael Irving, New Atlas, 26 Feb. 2025 The key is to knead the mixture (by hand or in a stand mixture fitted with a paddle) until the proteins begin to unravel and cross-link, giving it a tacky texture that turns springy and juicy as the sausage cooks, releasing its flavorful fat to mingle with the sauce and cheese as the pizza bakes. J. Kenji López-Alt, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2023 This made the objects softer, because opening up the bonds reduces the amount of cross-linking in the polymer networks. IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2023 The best guess Adams could make was that their strands have more cross-links than ours--weak chemical bonds at points where strands are coiled close together. Will Hively, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross-link was in 1936

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cross-link.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-link. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

cross-link

noun
ˈkrȯ-ˌsliŋk
: an atom or group of atoms that is a crosswise connection between two long series of atoms of a molecule
cross-link verb

Medical Definition

cross-link

noun
: a crosswise connecting part (as an atom or group) that connects parallel chains in a complex chemical molecule (as a protein)
cross-link verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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