Multimer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A complex entity composed of various interconnected subunits that collaborate to fulfill a biological function
2. A molecular assembly made of several distinct or similar components that work together for a specific purpose
3. A structural formation consisting of multiple units that interact to perform a particular biological activity

Etymology: "Multimer" is a scientific coinage built from two Greek-derived pieces. The prefix "multi-" comes from Latin "multus," meaning "many" or "much," while "-mer" comes from Greek "meros," meaning "part." Put together, the term describes something made of many parts, which fits its use in biochemistry for a molecule assembled from several subunits. The second half of the word is the more interesting one. In "-mer" the Greek sense of "part" survives in the same way it does in familiar chemistry terms such as "polymer," where "poly-" means "many" and "-mer" marks the repeating units. "Multimer" thus follows the same pattern, with the stress placed on how many units are joined together rather than on the units repeating in a chain.