noun

tropism

Tropism (noun) means the turning of an organism (chiefly a plant) or part of an organism either towards or away from a stimulus; (countable) an instance of this.

noun

The turning of an organism (chiefly a plant) or part of an organism either towards or away from a stimulus; (countable) an instance of this.

A capability or tendency for a pathogen (chiefly a virus) to infect a type of cell, tissue, organ, or host organism.

Of a person: an instinctive predilection or tendency; also (generally), a liking, a preference.

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Etymology

From -tropism (suffix meaning ‘growth towards; movement, turning’) (possibly based on geotropism and heliotropism), from Latin tropus + English -ism (suffix forming nouns of action, process, or result). Tropus is derived from Ancient Greek τρόπος (trópos, “a turn; a manner, style, way; figure of speech, trope; etc.”), from τρέπω (trépō, “to turn; to divert; to rotate or change orientation”) (from Proto-Indo-European *trep- (“to turn”)) + -ος (-os, suffix forming nouns of result or abstract nouns of action). Sense 1 (“turning of an organism or part of an organism towards or away from a stimulus”) is modelled after German Tropismus.

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of tropism?

"tropism" (noun) means the turning of an organism (chiefly a plant) or part of an organism either towards or away from a stimulus; (countable) an instance of this.

What are the different meanings of tropism?

"tropism" has 3 main meanings: 1. The turning of an organism (chiefly a plant) or part of an organism either towards or away from a stimulus; (countable) an instance of this; 2. A capability or tendency for a pathogen (chiefly a virus) to infect a type of cell, tissue, organ, or host organism; 3. Of a person: an instinctive predilection or tendency; also (generally), a liking, a preference.