conjugate
con·ju·gate • v. / ˈkänjəˌgāt/ 1. [tr.] Gram. give the different forms of (a verb in an inflected language) as they vary according to voice, mood, tense, number, and person.2. [intr.] Biol. (of bacteria or unicellular organisms) become temporarily united in order to exchange genetic material: E. coli only conjugate when one of the cells possesses fertility genes. ∎ (of gametes) become fused.3. [tr.] Chem. be combined with or joined to reversibly: bilirubin is conjugated by liver enzymes and excreted in the bile.• adj. / ˈkänjigət; -jəˌgāt/ coupled, connected, or related, in particular: ∎ Chem. (of an acid or base) related to the corresponding base or acid by loss or gain of a proton. ∎ Math. joined in a reciprocal relation, esp. having the same real parts and equal magnitudes but opposite signs of imaginary parts. Short for complex conjugate. ∎ Geom. (of angles) adding up to 360°; (of arcs) combining to form a complete circle. ∎ Biol. (esp. of gametes) fused.• n. / ˈkänjigət; -jəˌgāt/ a thing that is conjugate or conjugated, in particular: ∎ chiefly Biochem. a substance formed by the reversible combination of two or more others. ∎ a mathematical value or entity having a reciprocal relation with another. See also complex conjugate.DERIVATIVES: con·ju·ga·cy / ˈkänjəgəsē/ n.con·ju·ga·tive / ˈkänjəˌgātiv/ adj.