Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of or relating to a single molecule.
  • adjective Of or consisting of a layer one molecule thick.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Consisting of or involving a single molecule: in chem., of a substance, having its simplest molecular composition in contradistinction from polymeric derivatives formed by the union of two, three, or more of the simplest molecules. Thus, formic aldehyde (CH2O) may be spoken of as monomolecular, and metaformaldehyde (C3H6O3) as its trimolecular derivative, 3CH2O.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective chemistry, of a reaction involving a single molecule
  • adjective consisting of a single layer of molecules

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Having published my first story in 1977, I've had this bizarre, undefinable gig for thirty years now, but have always tried to stay fresh and remain at the monomolecular edge of the field.

    MIND MELD: Today's SF Authors Define Science Fiction (Part 1) 2008

  • In that configuration the projected force field gives the blade a monomolecular cutting edge.

    The Overload Protocol Mark Walden 2009

  • In that configuration the projected force field gives the blade a monomolecular cutting edge.

    The Overload Protocol Mark Walden 2009

  • He discovered monomolecular films with specific molecular orientation at surfaces and promoted understanding of plasmas, heat transfer, and thermionic phenomena, and invented a high-vacuum electron tube and gas-filled incandescent lamp.

    Langmuir, Irving 2008

  • He watched the droid hesitate and then lose its head as the monomolecular wire flashed through its neck and over the space where his own head had been a split second before.

    The Dam Across The Stars Bob Lock 2006

  • He watched the droid hesitate and then lose its head as the monomolecular wire flashed through its neck and over the space where his own head had been a split second before.

    Archive 2006-12-01 Bob Lock 2006

  • The colony extruded carbon/carbon and carbon/silicon junctions; it grew monomolecular whiskers to join these junctions together, bootstrapping itself up the ladder of complexity; from these junctions it generated light-sensitive dots — eyes — and the capacity to generate and process microbursts of radio-frequency noise.

    Spin 2005

  • There was a momentary mosquito-whine, and sparkles of color sleeted across his desk readout as the monomolecular scanner kicked in.

    The Romulan Way Diane Duane 2000

  • There was a momentary mosquito-whine, and sparkles of color sleeted across his desk readout as the monomolecular scanner kicked in.

    Rihannsu: The Bloodwing Voyages Diane Duane with Peter Morwood 2000

  • There was a momentary mosquito-whine, and sparkles of color sleeted across his desk readout as the monomolecular scanner kicked in.

    The Romulan Way Diane Duane 2000

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