chiral

adjective

chi·​ral ˈkī-rəl How to pronounce chiral (audio)
: of or relating to a molecule that is not superimposable on its mirror image
chirality noun

Examples of chiral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the new study, the researchers coupled chiral liquid crystals with fluorescent dyes that emitted red, green, or blue light. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Nov. 2023 Electrons with one spin orientation will move more efficiently across a chiral molecule in one direction than the other. Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 6 Sep. 2023 But, strangely, the calculation that came closest used an oversimplified model of the nuclear force—not the chiral effective field theory. WIRED, 10 Aug. 2023 The newest addition to the list is a chiral bose-liquid state, which scientists just observed for the first time. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 14 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for chiral 

Word History

Etymology

chir- + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chiral was in 1894

Dictionary Entries Near chiral

Cite this Entry

“Chiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chiral. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

chiral

adjective
chi·​ral ˈkī-rəl How to pronounce chiral (audio)
1
a
of a molecule : having a structure that is nonsuperimposable on its mirror image
chiral molecules
b
: relating to or composed of chiral molecules
In discussions of chiral drugs, thalidomide is sometimes cited as a prime example of a drug that differs strikingly in the properties of its two enantiomers.Stephen C. Stinson, Chemical & Engineering News
2
: of, relating to, or being a chiral center
chirality noun
plural chiralities
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