Meaning & use
macromolecule
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Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
A giant molecule, built from thousands of atoms, often made by joining many smaller units into long chains or networks.
Grammar: A countable noun: a macromolecule, many macromolecules.
Patterns
- a macromolecule of something
- a macromolecule such as something
Starch is a macromolecule made of many sugar units linked together.
A protein is a macromolecule that folds into a precise shape.
The lab studied how a macromolecule changes when it is heated.
nouncountablebiology
In biology, one of the four large organic compounds that make up living cells: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids.
Grammar: Often used in the plural when listing the biological types: the four macromolecules.
Patterns
- biological macromolecules
Students learn that DNA is a macromolecule that stores genetic information.
Cells build macromolecules from small organic building blocks.
Digestion breaks macromolecules down into smaller parts the body can absorb.
Word forms
| plural | macromolecules |
|---|
Common combinations
- biological macromolecule
- Lipids are one type of biological macromolecule.
- synthetic macromolecule
- Nylon is a synthetic macromolecule made in factories.
- structure of a macromolecule
- X-rays reveal the structure of a macromolecule.
- macromolecule such as DNA
- A macromolecule such as DNA can be millions of atoms long.
- large macromolecule
- Each large macromolecule is built from repeating units.
Synonyms and how they differ
- polymer
- Polymer names a molecule made of repeating units, and most macromolecules are polymers, but the term macromolecule also covers large molecules that are not obviously repeating.
- giant molecule
- Giant molecule is a plain, informal description, while macromolecule is the standard scientific term.
Opposites
Word family
- macromolecular adjective
- relating to macromolecules
- molecule noun
- the smallest unit of a chemical compound
- monomer noun
- a small unit that joins with others to form a polymer
- polymer noun
- a substance made of long chains of repeating units
Commonly confused: macromolecule or macronutrient?
macromolecule vs macronutrient
A macronutrient is a nutrient needed in large amounts in the diet, such as protein or fat, while a macromolecule is a very large molecule.
Practice
Which of these is an example of a macromolecule?
Choose one answer.
A protein is a huge molecule made of many amino acids. Water, oxygen and salt are small by comparison.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “macromolecule”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.