molecular

adjective mo·lec·u·lar \ mə-ˈle-kyə-lər \

Updated on: 9 May 2018

Definition of molecular

1 : of, relating to, consisting of, or produced by molecules

molecular oxygen

2 : of or relating to individual or small components

a molecular view of the American Civil War

—

molecularly

play \-lē\ adverb

See molecular defined for kids

Recent Examples of molecular from the Web

Kathleen Purvis Verica, whose food is often a blend of fresh, local and seasonal ingredients with cutting-edge molecular science flourishes, has had nine months to research, scribble and dream for the menu.

— kathleen purvis, charlotteobserver, "Breaking news on The Stanley: We've got the menu, planned opening date and a big chef surprise | Charlotte Observer," 4 May 2018
The cryptic despair and magnanimous ideology surrounding this one singular transaction, which then congeal together to form an entirely different kind of molecular activity other than DNA, is damningly mercurial.

— rebecca carroll, latimes.com, "In 'That Kind of Mother,' Rumaan Alam enters the thorny world of interracial adoption," 3 May 2018
The peptides are the molecular signal that triggers the body’s immune system, so more peptides on a given pollen grain increases the severity of the allergy.

— umair irfan, Vox, "It’s not your imagination. Allergy season gets worse every year.," 28 Apr. 2018
Much of the amazing physics research in the 21 st Century is now being applied to the field of nanotechnology, which allows us to construct molecular and atomic formations.

— zoltan istvan, Newsweek, "Quantum Archaeology: The Quest to 3D Bioprint Every Dead Person Back to Life," 9 Mar. 2018
Through his research, Northcott discovered molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma with distinct patient features, outcomes and mutational patterns.

— lindsay carlton, Fox News, "Why the next generation of cancer researchers need support if they are to find a cure," 20 Apr. 2018
But in recent years, new molecular analyses have revealed types of tissue researchers previously missed, including two new types of retinal cells and a new immune cell that produces an immune-surpressing steroid.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Human Cell Atlas Releases First Major Data Set," 20 Apr. 2018
Scientific advances uncovering molecular roots of rare conditions have increased the odds of discovering treatments for the diseases and heightened investor interest in the field.

— noemie bisserbe, WSJ, "Fast-Growing Shire PLC Had Pharmaceutical Rivals in a Takeover Frenzy," 19 Apr. 2018
Predict also uses molecular tools to understand whether those viruses are (or may become) a threat to human health.

— maryn mckenna, WIRED, "The Race to Find the Next Pandemic—Before It Finds Us," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'molecular.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of molecular

1770

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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MOLECULAR Defined for Kids

molecular

adjective mo·lec·u·lar \ mə-ˈle-kyə-lər \

Definition of molecular for Students

: of or relating to a molecule

molecular structure

Medical Dictionary

molecular

adjective mo·lec·u·lar \ mə-ˈlek-yə-lər \

medical Definition of molecular

1 : of, relating to, consisting of, or produced by molecules

molecular oxygen

2 : relating to or emphasizing individual responses or structures of behavior

proceed by more and more detailed analysis to the molecular facts of perception
—G. A. Miller

— compare ³molar 2

—

molecularity

play \-ˌlek-yə-ˈlar-ət-ē\ noun, plural -ties

—

molecularly

play \mə-ˈlek-yə-lər-lē\ adverb

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molecular

Definition of molecular

molecularly

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molecular

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molecular

medical Definition of molecular

molecularity

molecularly

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molecularly

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