-tropism

-tropism

suff.

Tropism: phototropism.

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[From Greek tropē, a turning; see -tropic.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

-tropism

or

-tropy

n combining form

(Biology) indicating a tendency to turn or develop in response to a certain stimulus: phototropism.

[from Greek tropos a turn]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

tro•pism

(ˈtroʊ pɪz əm)

n.

the orientation of an organism toward or away from a stimulus, as light.

[1895–1900; independent use of -tropism]

tro•pis′tic (-ˈpɪs tɪk) adj.

-tropism

var. of -tropy.

[see -tropy, -ism]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.