metameric

adjective

meta·​mer·​ic ˌme-tə-ˈmer-ik How to pronounce metameric (audio)
-ˈmir-
1
a
: composed of metameres : exhibiting bodily metamerism : segmental
metameric animals
a metameric body plan
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in a metamere
metameric arrangement of lateral blood vessels in the abdominal wall
2
: of, relating to, or being either of two colors that appear identical to the eye but are composed of different combinations of wavelengths of light
a metameric pair of color samples
metamerically
ˌme-tə-ˈmer-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce metameric (audio)
-ˈmir-
adverb
a metamerically segmented animal

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) metamere + -ic entry 1, after German metamerisch; (sense 2) German metamer "metameric" (from meta- meta- + -mer -merous) + -ic entry 1

Note: The German adjective metamer was introduced by the Baltic German chemist and philosopher Wilhelm Ostwald (1853-1932). The term was used in his Mathematische Farbenlehre, Book One of Die Farbenlehre, (Leipzig, 1918), p. 237 passim. Ostwald was presumably inspired by the use of metamer in chemistry to refer to compounds belonging to different families but having the same molecular weight and same percentage composition.

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of metameric was in 1875

Dictionary Entries Near metameric

metamere

metameric

metamerism

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

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

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Medical Definition

metameric

adjective
meta·​mer·​ic ˌmet-ə-ˈmer-ik How to pronounce metameric (audio)
1
: relating to or exhibiting chemical metamerism : isomeric
2
a
: composed of metameres : exhibiting bodily metamerism : segmental
a metameric animal
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in a metamere
metameric arrangement of lateral blood vessels in the abdominal wall
3
: of, relating to, or being color metamers
a metameric pair of color samples
metamerically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce metameric (audio)
adverb
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