tropism

¹

[ troh-piz-uhm ]

noun

, Biology.

1. an orientation of an organism to an external stimulus, as light, especially by growth rather than by movement.

-tropism

²

1. variant of -tropy.

-tropism

¹

combining form

1. indicating a tendency to turn or develop in response to a certain stimulus

   phototropism

tropism

²

/ ˈtrəʊpɪzəm; trəʊˈpɪstɪk /

noun

1. the response of an organism, esp a plant, to an external stimulus by growth in a direction determined by the stimulus

tropism

/ trō′pĭz′əm /

1. The growth or movement of a living organism or anatomical structure toward or away from an external stimulus, such as light, heat, or gravity.
2. See also geotropism

Derived Forms

• ˌtropisˈmatic, adjective
• tropistic, adjective

Other Words From

• tro·pis·mat·ic [troh-piz-, mat, -ik], adjective
• tro·pis·tic [troh-, pis, -tik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tropism¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; independent use of -tropism

Origin of tropism²

-tropy, -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of tropism¹

from Greek tropos a turn

Origin of tropism²

from Greek tropos a turn

Example Sentences

In those two books, the existential shows itself gradually—breast cancer in the first, a physiological tropism in the second.

From The Daily Beast

Still, Cuccinelli has shown his own tropism toward the kindness of strangers.

From The Daily Beast

This may be a tropism (stereotropism) or it may be a mere surface tension phenomenon.

From Project Gutenberg

It's the same old disregard, or it's the same old psycho-tropism, or process of assimilation.

From Project Gutenberg

We shall in the succeeding series of papers deal with the subject of tropism in general.

From Project Gutenberg

The workers, on the other hand, who have to be in and out of the nest about their business, do not have this tropism.

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless this is the psycho-tropism of science to all "thunderstones" said to have fallen luminously.

From Project Gutenberg