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valency

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va⋅len⋅cy

  [vey-luhn-see]
Use valency in a Sentence
–noun, plural -cies. Chemistry.
valence.
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va⋅lence

  [vey-luhns]
–noun
1. Chemistry.
a. the quality that determines the number of atoms or groups with which any single atom or group will unite chemically.
b. the relative combining capacity of an atom or group compared with that of the standard hydrogen atom. The chloride ion, Cl–, with a valence of one, has the capacity to unite with one atom of hydrogen or its equivalent, as in HCl or NaCl.
2. Immunology. the number of determinants per molecule of antigen.
3. the capacity of one person or thing to react with or affect another in some special way, as by attraction or the facilitation of a function or activity.
Also, valency.

Origin:
1865–70; < L valentia strength, worth, equiv. to valent- (s. of valēns), prp. to be strong + -ia n. suffix; see -ence
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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va·lence   (vā'ləns)   
n.   pl. va·lenc·es also va·len·cies

  1. Chemistry

    1. The combining capacity of an atom or radical determined by the number of electrons that it will lose, add, or share when it reacts with other atoms.

    2. A positive or negative integer used to represent this capacity: The valences of copper are 1 and 2.

  2. The number of binding sites of a molecule, such as an antibody or antigen.

  3. The ability of a substance to interact with another or to produce an effect.

  4. Psychology The degree of attraction or aversion that an individual feels toward a specific object or event.

  5. Linguistics The number of arguments that a lexical item, especially a verb, can combine with to make a syntactically well-formed sentence, often along with a description of the categories of those constituents. Intransitive verbs (appear, arrive) have a valence of one—the subject; some transitive verbs (paint, touch), two—the subject and direct object; other transitive verbs (ask, give), three—the subject, direct object, and indirect object.

  6. The capacity of something to unite, react, or interact with something else: "I do not claim to know much more about novels than the writing of them, but I cannot imagine one set in the breathing world which lacks any moral valence" (Robert Stone).


[Latin valentia, capacity, from valēns, valent-, present participle of valēre, to be strong; see wal- in Indo-European roots.]
va·len·cy   (vā'lən-sē)   
n.  Variant of valence.
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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Cultural Dictionary

valence [(vay-luhns)]

A number characterizing an atom, equal to the number of valence electrons.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

valence 
c.1425, "extract, preparation," from L. valentia "strength, capacity," from valentem (nom. valens), prp. of valere "be strong" (see valiant). Meaning "combining power of an element" is recorded from 1884, from Ger. Valenz (1868), from the L. word.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: va·lence
Pronunciation: 'vA-l&n(t)s
Function: noun
1 a : the degree of combining power of an element or radical as shown bythe number of atomic weights of a monovalent element (as hydrogen) with which the atomic weight of the element or the partial molecular weight of the radical will combine or for which it can besubstituted or with which it can be compared b : a unit of valence valences of carbon>
2 a : relative capacity to unite, react, orinteract (as with antigens or a biological substrate) b : the degree of attractiveness an individual, activity, or object possesses as a behavioral goal valences of success and failure —Leon Festinger>

Main Entry: va·len·cy
Pronunciation: 'vA-l&n-sE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -cies
: VALENCE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

valence va·lence (vā'ləns) or va·len·cy (-lən-sē)
n.

  1. The combining capacity of an atom or a radical determined by the number of electrons that it will lose, add, or share when it reacts with other atoms.

  2. A positive or negative integer used to represent this capacity.

  3. The number of components of an antigen molecule to which an antibody molecule can bind.

  4. The attraction or aversion that an individual feels toward a specific object or event.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
valence   (vā'ləns)  Pronunciation Key 
A whole number that represents the ability of an atom or a group of atoms to combine with other atoms or groups of atoms. The valence is determined by the number of electrons that an atom can lose, add, or share. An atom's valence is positive if its own electrons are used in forming the bond, or negative if another atom's electrons are used. For example, a carbon atom can share four of its electrons with other atoms and therefore has a valence of +4. A sodium atom can receive an electron from another atom and therefore has a valence of -1. (In this book the distinction between positive and negative valences is ignored unless it is relevant.) The valence of an atom generally indicates how many chemical bonds it is capable of forming with other atoms. Also called valence number, oxidation state.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Computing Dictionary

valency
degree

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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