thigmotropism

noun

thig·mot·ro·pism | \ thig-ˈmä-trə-ˌpi-zəm

How to pronounce thigmotropism (audio)

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Definition of thigmotropism

: a tropism in which contact especially with a solid or a rigid surface is the orienting factor

History and Etymology for thigmotropism

borrowed from German Thigmotropismus, from Greek thígma "touch" (from thig-, base of thingánō, thingánein, aorist éthigon, thigeîn "to touch, handle, take hold of" —of uncertain origin— + -ma, resultative noun suffix) + German -o- -o- + -tropismus -tropism

Note: The term was introduced by the German physiologist Max Verworn (1863-1921) in Psycho-physiologische Protisten-Studien (Jena, 1889), p. 90. — Greek thingánein has been compared with Indo-European *dhi-n-ǵh-, evident in Latin fingere "to mold, fashion, make a likeness of" (see feign), a present tense derivative of *dhei̯ǵh- "knead, shape." However, this requires that voiced aspirates would lose aspiration and retain voicing after nasals in Greek, which appears not to be the case.

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Cite this Entry

“Thigmotropism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thigmotropism. Accessed 27 Feb. 2021.

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More Definitions for thigmotropism

thigmotropism

noun

thig·mot·ro·pism | \ thig-ˈmä-trə-ˌpiz-əm

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Medical Definition of thigmotropism

: a tropism in which physical contact especially with a solid or a rigid surface is the factor causing orientation of the whole organism

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