conjugate

views updated May 29 2018

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.

conjugate

views updated May 14 2018

conjugate (conjugate diameter, true conjugate) (kon-jŭg-it) n. the distance between the front and rear of the pelvis measured from the most prominent part of the sacrum to the back of the pubic symphysis. It is estimated by subtracting 1.3–1.9 cm from the distance between the lower edge of the symphysis and the sacrum (the diagonal c.). If the true conjugate is less than about 10.2 cm, delivery of an infant through the natural passages may be difficult or impossible.