SUPERMOLECULE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does supermolecule mean? 

• SUPERMOLECULE (noun)
  The noun SUPERMOLECULE has 1 sense:

1. any very large complex molecule; found only in plants and animals

  Familiarity information: SUPERMOLECULE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUPERMOLECULE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any very large complex molecule; found only in plants and animals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

macromolecule; supermolecule

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)