conjugate

1 of 3

adjective

con·​ju·​gate ˈkän-ji-gət 

-jə-ˌgāt

1

a

: joined together especially in pairs : coupled

a conjugate relationship

b

: acting or operating as if joined

2

a

: having features in common but opposite or inverse in some particular

b

: relating to or being conjugate complex numbers

complex roots occurring in conjugate pairs

3

of an acid or base : related by the difference of a proton

The acid NH₄⁺ and the base NH₃ are conjugate to each other.

4

: having the same derivation and therefore usually some likeness in meaning

conjugate words

5

of two leaves of a book : forming a single piece

conjugately adverb

conjugateness noun

conjugate

2 of 3

verb

con·​ju·​gate ˈkän-jə-ˌgāt 

conjugated; conjugating

transitive verb

1

: to give in prescribed order the various inflectional forms of

—used especially of a verb

2

: to join together

intransitive verb

1

: to become joined together

2

a

: to pair and fuse in conjugation (see conjugation sense 3a)

b

: to pair in synapsis

conjugate

3 of 3

noun

con·​ju·​gate ˈkän-ji-gət 

-jə-ˌgāt

1

: something conjugate : a product of conjugating

2

: conjugate complex number

3

: an element of a mathematical group that is equal to a given element of the group multiplied on the right by another element and on the left by the inverse of the latter element

Synonyms

Verb

• associate
• coalesce
• combine
• conjoin
• connect
• couple
• fuse
• interfuse
• join
• link (up)
• marry
• unify
• unite

Examples of conjugate in a Sentence

Verb

Can you conjugate the verb “to go”?

biological cells conjugating under a microscope

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The two most popular styles of training in powerlifting are conjugate and linear. —Roger Lockridge, Men's Health, 26 Apr. 2022

There are two meningococcal vaccines: meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MenACWY) and serogroup B meningococcal vaccines (MenB). —Patia Braithwaite, SELF, 26 Aug. 2019

Verb

This is when the body remembers conjugating humanity as an immemorial practice. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 24 Oct. 2024

This is especially true with the sun, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter all conjugating in your sign—the cosmic gang is on your side. —Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 1 June 2024

Noun

At AstraZeneca, investors will once again be looking for strong results from its cancer business, along with meaningful updates on the research pipeline, most notably the antibody-drug conjugates partnered with Daiichi Sankyo. —Elaine Chen, STAT, 24 July 2024

Antibody-drug conjugates have become an important part of Astra’s cancer push, showing the promise to eventually replace conventional chemotherapy for some patients. —TIME, 20 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English conjugat, from Latin conjugatus, past participle of conjugare to unite, from com- + jugare to join, from jugum yoke — more at yoke

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing conjugate

• conjugate complex number

Kids Definition

conjugate

1 of 2 adjective

con·​ju·​gate ˈkän-ji-gət 

-jə-ˌgāt

: joined together especially in pairs : coupled

conjugate

2 of 2 verb

con·​ju·​gate ˈkän-jə-ˌgāt 

conjugated; conjugating

1

: to give the various forms of a verb in order

2

: to join together

3

: to pair and unite in conjugation

Medical Definition

conjugate

1 of 3 adjective

con·​ju·​gate ˈkän-ji-gət, -jə-ˌgāt 

1

: functioning or operating simultaneously as if joined

conjugate eye movements

2

of an acid or base : related by the difference of a proton

the acid NH₄⁺ and the base NH₃ are conjugate to each other

conjugately adverb

conjugate

2 of 3 verb

con·​ju·​gate -jə-ˌgāt 

conjugated; conjugating

transitive verb

: to unite (as with the elimination of water) so that the product is easily broken down (as by hydrolysis) into the original compounds

benzoic acid is conjugated with glycine to hippuric acid in the body

intransitive verb

1

: to pair and fuse in conjugation

2

: to pair in synapsis

conjugate

3 of 3 noun

-ji-gət, -jə-ˌgāt 

: a chemical compound formed by the union of two compounds or united with another compound