chemistry

[ kem-uh-stree ]

noun

, plural chem·is·tries.

1. the science that deals with the composition and properties of substances and various elementary forms of matter. Compare element ( def 2 ).
2. chemical properties, reactions, phenomena, etc.:

   the chemistry of carbon.

3. the interaction of one personality with another:

   The chemistry between him and his boss was all wrong.

4. sympathetic understanding; rapport:

   the astonishing chemistry between the actors.

5. any or all of the elements that make up something:

   the chemistry of love.

chemistry

/ ˈkɛmɪstrɪ /

noun

1. the branch of physical science concerned with the composition, properties, and reactions of substances See also inorganic chemistry organic chemistry physical chemistry
2. the composition, properties, and reactions of a particular substance
3. the nature and effects of any complex phenomenon

   the chemistry of humour

4. informal.
   a reaction, taken to be instinctual, between two persons

chemistry

/ kĕm′ĭ-strē /

1. The scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of the chemical elements and the compounds they form.
2. The composition, structure, properties, and reactions of a substance.

chemistry

1. The study of the composition, properties, and reactions of matter , particularly at the level of atoms and molecules .

Word History and Origins

Origin of chemistry¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; chemist + -ry; replacing earlier chymistry, chimistry

Word History and Origins

Origin of chemistry¹

C17: from earlier chimistrie, from chimist chemist

Example Sentences

Schwartz: They were cast individually, but what luck that those two women have such chemistry together.

From Los Angeles Times

"There's chemistry, sometimes you meet somebody, straight away you make eye contact and something flows. That's the case with those two," said Arteta.

From BBC

By borrowing the idea of directed evolution, a technique used in both chemistry and biology that mimics the process of natural selection, the researchers combined precision with rapid output to achieve their ideal lipid "recipe."

From Science Daily

Chen is a research associate professor of chemistry at Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

From Science Daily

The work was performed by Beatrice Britton, who carried out the study as part of her master's degree in chemistry at UCL.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• appeal
• beauty
• charisma
• glamour
• grace
• magic