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noun

tropism

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Tropism (noun) means the way a living thing, usually a plant, grows or turns towards or away from something such as light.

noun

1

The way a living thing, usually a plant, grows or turns towards or away from something such as light.

2

The tendency of a germ, especially a virus, to attack a particular kind of cell or body part.

"host tropism tissue tropism"

3

A natural pull or liking that a person has towards something.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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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 way a living thing, usually a plant, grows or turns towards or away from something such as light.

What are the different meanings of tropism?

"tropism" has 3 main meanings: 1. The way a living thing, usually a plant, grows or turns towards or away from something such as light; 2. The tendency of a germ, especially a virus, to attack a particular kind of cell or body part; 3. A natural pull or liking that a person has towards something.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · etymology from Wiktionary