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dominants

 [dom-uh-nuhnt]   Origin

dom·i·nant

   [dom-uh-nuhnt]
adjective
1.
ruling, governing, or controlling; having or exerting authority or influence: dominant in the chain of command.
2.
occupying or being in a commanding or elevated position.
3.
predominant; main; major; chief: Corn is the dominant crop of Iowa.
4.
Genetics. of or pertaining to a dominant.
5.
Music. pertaining to or based on the dominant: the dominant chord.
noun
6.
Genetics.
a.
the one of a pair of alternative alleles that masks the effect of the other when both are present in the same cell or organism.
b.
the trait or character determined by such an allele. Compare recessive (defs. 4, 5).
7.
Music. the fifth tone of a diatonic scale.
8.
Ecology. any of one or more types of plants, or sometimes animals, that by virtue of abundance, size, or habits exert so important an influence on the conditions of an area as to determine, to a great extent, what other organisms can live there.

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Dominants is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Origin:
1525–35; < Latin dominant- (stem of domināns, present participle of dominārī to dominate), equivalent to domin(us) master + -ant- -ant

Related forms
dom·i·nant·ly, adverb
non·dom·i·nant, adjective, noun

Can be confused: dominant, dominate, domineer (see synonym note at the current entry).

Synonyms
1. prevailing, principal. Dominant, predominant, paramount, preeminent describe something outstanding. Dominant describes something that is most influential or important: the dominant characteristics of monkeys. Predominant describes something that is dominant over all others, or is more widely prevalent: Curiosity is the predominant characteristic of monkeys. Paramount applies to something that is first in rank or order: Safety is of paramount importance. Preeminent applies to a prominence based on recognition of excellence: His work was of preeminent quality.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

dominant
1530s, from Fr. dominant (13c.), from L. dominantem, prp. of dominari (see domination). Music sense is from 1819. The noun is first recorded 1819, earliest in the musical sense.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

dominant dom·i·nant (dŏm'ə-nənt)
adj.

  1. Exercising the most influence or control.

  2. Of, relating to, or being an allele that produces the same phenotypic effect whether inherited with a homozygous or heterozygous allele.

n.

  1. A dominant allele or trait.

  2. An organism having a dominant trait.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
dominant   (dŏm'ə-nənt)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. Relating to the form of a gene that expresses a trait, such as hair color, in an individual organism. The dominant form of a gene overpowers the counterpart, or recessive, form located on the other of a pair of chromosomes.

  2. Relating to the trait expressed by such a gene. See more at inheritance. Compare recessive.

  3. Being a species that has the greatest effect within its ecological community, especially by determining the presence, abundance, or type of other species. As a plant community progresses through stages of succession, different species may become dominant for a period until the climax community is reached, at which point the dominant species remains stable until a major disruption occurs. Among animals, the dominant species in a community is generally the top predator or the most abundant or widespread species.

  4. Being an animal that occupies the highest position in a social hierarchy and has the greatest access to resources such as food and a mate or mates. Social dominance is gained and maintained through factors such as size and aggressiveness.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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