Chemistry

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkÉ›m.ɪ.stri/

Origin

First coined 1605. From chemist, chymist, from Latin alchimista, from Arabic الكيمياء, from article ال- + Ancient Greek χυμεία (khumeia, "art of alloying metals"), from χύμα (khuma, "fluid"), from χυμός (khumos, "juice"), from χέω (kheō, "I pour").

Full definition of chemistry

Noun

1. (uncountable) The branch of natural science that deals with the composition and constitution of substances and the changes that they undergo as a consequence of alterations in the constitution of their molecules.
2. (countable) An application of chemical theory and method to a particular substance.the chemistry of ironthe chemistry of indigo
3. (informal) The mutual attraction between two people; rapport.

Usage notes

Historical note: This word and its derivatives were formerly spelled chy- or sometimes chi- (i.e., chymistry, chymist, chymical, etc., or chimistry, chimist, chimical, etc.) with pronunciation depending on the spelling.

Meronyms

Derived terms

Related terms