Metathesis

//məˈtæ.θə.sɪs// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The transposition of letters, syllables or sounds within a word, such as in ask as /æks/. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    a chemical reaction between two compounds in which parts of each are interchanged to form two new compounds (AB+CD=AD+CB) wordnet
  3. 3
    The double decomposition of inorganic salts. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    a linguistic process of transposition of sounds or syllables within a word or words within a sentence wordnet
  5. 5
    The breaking and reforming of double bonds in olefins in which substituent groups are swapped. countable, uncountable

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin metathesis, from Ancient Greek μετάθεσις (metáthesis), from μετά (metá, “among”) + θέσις (thésis, “placement”).

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