| Library / English Dictionary |
SUPERMOLECULE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Any very large complex molecule; found only in plants and animals
Synonyms:
macromolecule; supermolecule
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("supermolecule" is a kind of...):
molecule ((physics and chemistry) the simplest structural unit of an element or compound)
organic compound (any compound of carbon and another element or a radical)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "supermolecule"):
protein (any of a large group of nitrogenous organic compounds that are essential constituents of living cells; consist of polymers of amino acids; essential in the diet of animals for growth and for repair of tissues; can be obtained from meat and eggs and milk and legumes)
carbohydrate; saccharide; sugar (an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain)
lipid; lipide; lipoid (an oily organic compound insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents; essential structural component of living cells (along with proteins and carbohydrates))
nucleic acid ((biochemistry) any of various macromolecules composed of nucleotide chains that are vital constituents of all living cells)
