depolymerize

verb

de·​po·​ly·​mer·​ize (ˌ)dē-pə-ˈli-mə-ˌrīz  -ˈpä-lə-mə- 

depolymerized; depolymerizing; depolymerizes

transitive verb

: to decompose (macromolecules) into simpler compounds (such as monomers)

intransitive verb

: to undergo decomposition into simpler compounds

depolymerization

ˌdē-pə-ˌli-mə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

(ˌ)dē-ˌpä-lə-mə-rə-

noun

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Medical Definition

depolymerize

verb

de·​po·​ly·​mer·​ize

variants or British depolymerise

(ˈ)dē-pə-ˈlim-ə-ˌrīz  -ˈpäl-ə-mə- 

depolymerized or British depolymerised; depolymerizing or British depolymerising

transitive verb

: to decompose (macromolecules) into relatively simple compounds (as monomers)

depolymerized nucleic acids

intransitive verb

: to undergo decomposition into simpler compounds

depolymerization noun

or British depolymerisation

ˌdē-pə-ˌlim-ə-rə-ˈzā-shən  (ˌ)dē-ˌpäl-ə-mə-rə-