clone

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: the aggregate of genetically identical cells or organisms asexually produced by or from a single progenitor cell or organism
b
: an individual grown from a single somatic cell or cell nucleus and genetically identical to it
c
: a group of replicas of all or part of a macromolecule and especially DNA
clones of identical recombinant DNA sequences
2
: one that appears to be a copy of an original form : duplicate
a clone of a personal computer
clonal adjective
clonally adverb

clone

2 of 2

verb

cloned; cloning

transitive verb

1
: to propagate a clone from
2
: to make a copy of

intransitive verb

: to produce a clone
cloner noun

Did you know?

Cloning is the production of a population of genetically identical cells or of organisms asexually produced by a single cell or organism. Cloning is fundamental to most living things, since the body cells of plants and animals are clones that come from a single fertilized egg. More narrowly, the term refers to an individual organism grown from a single body cell of its parent that is genetically identical to the parent. Cloning has been commonplace in horticulture since ancient times — many varieties of plants are cloned simply by obtaining cuttings of their leaves, stems, or roots and replanting them. The body cells of adult humans and other animals are routinely cultured as clones in the laboratory. British researchers achieved the first success in cloning an adult mammal in 1996. They produced a lamb, which they named Dolly, using DNA from an adult sheep.

Examples of clone in a Sentence

Noun the clone of an adult female sheep the car is a clone under a different brand name—it's even manufactured in the same plant as its cousin Verb Do you think scientists should clone humans? a plant produced by cloning
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This tasty wine is made from Chardonnay clones 765 and 95 and has aromas of almond paste, Cavaillon melon, and a whiff of wet river rock. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2024 The rifts create corrupted clones of people and monsters. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2024
Verb
In an era where artificial intelligence can clone anyone's face and voice with frightening accuracy, a new battlefront has emerged in the fight for digital identity protection. Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 Officials said Rodriguez-Leon was seen on surveillance footage in multiple stores taking gift cards, cloning the numbers and returning cards on the shelves. Helen Rummel, The Arizona Republic, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for clone 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Greek klṓn, klōnós "branch, sprig," perhaps contraction of *klaṓn, from kla-, stem of kláō, klân "to break off, break in two or in pieces" + -ōn, noun suffix — more at clastic

Note: The term clone, first spelled clon, was introduced by the American plant physiologist Herbert J. Webber (1865-1946) in "New horticultural and agricultural terms," Science, vol. 18 (new series), no. 459 (October 16, 1903), pp. 501-03: "Recently, Mr. O.F. Cook, of the Department of Agriculture, has called the writer's attention to the Greek word clon (κλών) meaning a twig, spray, or slip, such as is broken off for propagation, which could be used in the connection desired …Clons, which are groups of plants that are propagated by the use of any form of vegetative parts such as bulbs, tubers, cuttings, grafts, buds, etc., and which are simply parts of the same individual seedlings." The O.F. Cook to whom Webber refers was the American botanist Orator F. Cook (1867-1949). Respelling of the word as clone to mark the long o was suggested by the botanist Charles Louis Pollard ("On the spelling of 'clon'," Science, vol. 22 [new series], no. 551 [July 21, 1905], pp. 87-88).

Verb

derivative of clone entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1930, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clone was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near clone

Cite this Entry

“Clone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clone. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

clone

1 of 2 noun
1
: the whole collection of offspring produced asexually from an individual (as a plant increased by grafting)
2
: an individual grown from a single body cell of its parent and having the same genes as its parent
clonal adjective

clone

2 of 2 verb
cloned; cloning
: to make a clone from

Medical Definition

clone

1 of 2 noun
1
: the aggregate of genetically identical cells or organisms asexually produced by a single progenitor cell or organism
2
: an individual grown from a single somatic cell or cell nucleus and genetically identical to it
3
: a group of replicas of all or part of a macromolecule and especially DNA
clonal adjective
clonally adverb

clone

2 of 2 verb
cloned; cloning

transitive verb

: to propagate a clone from
frogs have been successfully cloned by transplanting nuclei from body cells to enucleated eggs

intransitive verb

: to produce a clone

More from Merriam-Webster on clone

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