counteradaptation

noun

coun·ter·ad·ap·ta·tion ˌkau̇n-tər-ˌa-ˌdap-ˈtā-shən

-dəp-

variants or counter-adaptation

plural counteradaptations or counter-adaptations

: adaptation of an organism (as in modification of behavior, physiology, or form) in response to an adaptation of another organism with which it regularly interacts

counteradaptation of insect pests in response to novel defensive chemicals produced by plant hosts

also : a favorable trait that arises as a result of counteradaptation

counteradaptations serving as a selective force to future change

: opposition to the effect of a drug or stimulus that is hypothesized to develop in an organism as a mechanism to maintain homeostasis

counteradaptive

ˌkau̇n-tər-ə-ˈdap-tiv

adjective

or counter-adaptive

counteradaptive processes

counteradaptive coevolution

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of counteradaptation was in 1916

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Counteradaptation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counteradaptation. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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