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trophallaxes

 - 2 dictionary results

troph⋅al⋅lax⋅is

  [trof-uh-lak-sis, troh-fuh-]
Use trophallaxes in a Sentence
–noun, plural -lax⋅es  [-lak-seez] .
(among social insects) the exchange of nutriments or other secretions between members of a colony.
Origin:
1915–20; troph- + Gk állaxis exchange, equiv. to allak- (verbid s. of allássein to change; see allo- ) + -sis -sis

Related forms:
troph⋅al⋅lac⋅tic  [trof-uh-lak-tik, troh-fuh-] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To trophallaxes
troph·al·lax·is   (trŏf'ə-lāk'sĭs, trō'fə-)   
n.   pl. troph·al·lax·es (-lāk'sēz)
Mutual exchange of food between adults and larvae of certain social insects such as bees or wasps.

[troph(o)- + Greek allaxis, exchange (from allassein, to exchange, from allos, other; see al-1 in Indo-European roots).]
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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