Chemotaxis - Definitions from Dictionary.com

che·mo·tax·is Audio Help (kē'mō-tāk'sĭs, kěm'ō-) Pronunciation Key
n. The characteristic movement or orientation of an organism or cell along a chemical concentration gradient either toward or away from the chemical stimulus.

che'mo·tac'tic (-tāk'tĭk) adj., che'mo·tac'ti·cal·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

chemotaxis
noun
movement by a cell or organism in reaction to a chemical stimulus

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

chemotaxis Audio Help (kē'mō-tāk'sĭs, kěm'ō-) Pronunciation Key
The characteristic movement or orientation of an organism or cell along a chemical concentration gradient either toward or away from the chemical stimulus. Bacteria exhibit chemotaxis when they move toward a source of nutrients.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Chemotaxis

Chem`o*tax"is\, n. Formerly also Chemiotaxis \Chem`i*o*tax"is\ [Chemical + Gr. ? arrangement, fr. ? to arrange.] (Biol.) The sensitiveness exhibited by small free-swimming organisms, as bacteria, zo["o]spores of alg[ae], etc., to chemical substances held in solution. They may be attracted (positive chemotaxis) or repelled (negative chemotaxis). -- Chem`o*tac"tic, a. -- Chem`o*tac"tic*al*ly, adv.

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