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Definition of palindrome - 6 dictionary results

pal⋅in⋅drome

  [pal-in-drohm]
Use palindrome in a Sentence
–noun
1. a word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc., reading the same backward as forward, as Madam, I'm Adam or Poor Dan is in a droop.
2. Biochemistry. a region of DNA in which the sequence of nucleotides is identical with an inverted sequence in the complementary strand: GAATTC is a palindrome of CTTAAG.
Origin:
1620–30; < Gk palíndromos recurring, equiv. to pálin again, back + -dromos running (see -drome )

Related forms:
pa⋅lin⋅dro⋅mist  [puh-lin-droh-mist] , noun
pal⋅in⋅drom⋅ic  [pal-in-drom-ik, -droh-mik] , pal⋅in⋅drom⋅i⋅cal, adjective
pal⋅in⋅drom⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pal·in·drome   (pāl'ĭn-drōm')   
n.  

  1. A word, phrase, verse, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. For example: A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!

  2. A segment of double-stranded DNA in which the nucleotide sequence of one strand reads in reverse order to that of the complementary strand.


[From Greek palindromos, running back again, recurring : palin, again; see kwel-1 in Indo-European roots + dromos, a running.]
pal'in·dro'mic (-drō'mĭk, -drŏm'ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

palindrome 
"a line that reads the same backward and forward," c.1629, from Gk. palindromos "a recurrence," lit. "a running back," from palin "again, back" (from PIE base *kwel- "move round," with notion of "revolving; see cycle) + dromos "a running."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pal·in·drome
Pronunciation: 'pal-&n-"drOm
Function: noun
: a palindromic sequence of DNA
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

palindrome pal·in·drome (pāl'ĭn-drōm')
n.
A segment of double-stranded DNA in which the nucleotide sequence of one strand reads in reverse order to that of the complementary strand.

pal'in·dro'mic (-drō'mĭk, -drŏm'ĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Encyclopedia

palindrome

word, number, sentence, or verse that reads the same backward or forward. The term derives from the Greek palin dromo ("running back again").

Learn more about palindrome with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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