molecular

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

|Updated on: 17 Jul 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

The idea would be to slip a type of molecular scissors, known as Crispr, into cells that would slice open DNA wherever scientists wanted a new gene to go.

— gina kolata, New York Times, "Swift Gene-Editing Method May Revolutionize Treatments for Cancer and Infectious Diseases," 11 July 2018
According to the researchers, this ancient sand would be an excellent place to search for the molecular evidence of life on Mars, as sand dunes on Earth have been shown to support microbial life.

— frankie schembri, Science | AAAS, "‘Ghost dunes’ spotted on Mars," 11 July 2018
Researchers measured conventional semen parameters and molecular changes and found the group that ate nuts had improvements in their sperm count, vitality, motility and shape.

— mari a. schaefer, Philly.com, "Study: Nutrition in nuts may help boost sperm count," 10 July 2018
Cyanobacteria thrives in water above 68 degrees and as long as nutrients are available can continue to grow, said Tim Davis, a Bowling Green State University molecular microbiologist who specializes in harmful algae blooms.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Political muscle halts release of Lake O's foul water. The reprieve won't last long," 9 July 2018
How cannabidiol alleviates seizures at a molecular level, though, remains unclear.

— lizzie johnson, SFChronicle.com, "Berkeley boy was ‘Patient X’ in first FDA-approved medicine derived from marijuana," 8 July 2018
Such research could help explain how certain defects at the molecular level lead to immune diseases and uncover new treatments.

— BostonGlobe.com, "GE’s Latin America CEO arrested in Brazil health care fraud probe," 5 July 2018
Fundamentally, the molecular soup tells scientists that the environment beneath Enceladus’s icy shell is capable of extremely complex chemistries.

— National Geographic, "Right Stuff for Life Found on Small Saturn Moon," 27 June 2018
Adults who do not have immunity to the disease should also receive the vaccine, according to Dr. Diane Griffin, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

— mark lieber, CNN, "Measles vaccine recommended for those attending World Cup," 6 June 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

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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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First Known Use of molecular

MOLECULAR Defined for Kids

molecular

Definition of molecular for Students

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molecular

medical Definition of molecular

molecularity

molecularly

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molecularly

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