trimer

[ trahy-mer ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a molecule composed of three identical, simpler molecules.
2. a polymer derived from three identical monomers.

trimer

/ traɪˈmɛrɪk; ˈtraɪmə /

noun

1. a polymer or a molecule of a polymer consisting of three identical monomers

trimer

/ trī′mər /

1. Any of various chemical compounds made of three smaller identical or similar molecules (called monomers) that are linked together. Trimers are linked by hydrogen bonds, coordinate bonds, or covalent bonds. Raffinose is a trimer composed of the monomers glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Derived Forms

• trimeric, adjective

Other Words From

• tri·mer·ic [trahy-, mer, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trimer¹

First recorded in 1925–30, trimer is from the Greek word trimerḗs having three parts. See tri-, -mer

Example Sentences

Graham, who worked on pancoronavirus vaccines even before the pandemic, reasons that the whole trimer of spike might stimulate better or broader immune protection than just the RBDs.

From Science Magazine

A general feature of such processes is the hook effect, whereby trimer formation, and thereby the associated biological activity, decreases at high drug concentrations.

From Nature

Each subunit in a trimer can contact a subunit from another trimer along one of the edges of the cube.

From Nature

Resolving the structure of the native Env trimer is key, because this is the entity that is present before the virus binds to and enters cells.

From Nature

When the trimer is viewed from the side, the bend angle is about 140°, so that the channel looks like an inverted dome.

From Nature