Lexic.us

Definition of Tropism

1. Noun. An involuntary orienting response; positive or negative reaction to a stimulus source.

Definition of Tropism

1. n. Modification of the direction of growth.

Definition of Tropism

1. Noun. (biology) the turning of an organism in response to a stimulus, either towards or away from the stimulus ¹

2. Noun. (virology) viral tropism, or which type of tissue supports a certain virus ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Tropism

1. the involuntary response of an organism to an external stimulus [n -S]

Medical Definition of Tropism

1. The movement of an organism in response to an external source of stimulus, usually toward or away from it. Examples of stimuli are light, heat, food, or chemicals. (09 Oct 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Tropism

Literary usage of Tropism

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Experimental Morphology by Charles Benedict Davenport (1899)
"Adaptation in tropisms. — The capacity for bending is usually associated with an advantage accruing to the part by that bending. Thus, the upward tropism of ..."

2. The Science of Human Behavior: Biological and Psychological Foundations by Maurice Parmelee (1913)
"The relation of instinct to tropism and reflex action, 198. — The adaptive nature of instincts, 205. — The structural basis of instincts, 206. ..."

3. The Grand Strategy of Evolution: The Social Philosophy of a Biologist by William Patten (1920)
"... Adaptation of Vital Actions to Good and Evil—The Evolution of Fitness and Adaptation—Adaptability in Nature-Action, as a Universal Creative tropism. ..."

4. The Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology by Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology (1905)
"Strophic taxis corresponds to the typical taxis or tropism of VERWORN or LOEB. It is conceived as brought about by a turning of the organism toward or from ..."

5. The Science and Philosophy of the Organism: The Gifford Lectures Delivered by Hans Driesch (1908)
"tropism Let us first devote a few words to the chief characteristics of these " tropisms." We did not discuss them whilst ..."

6. The Natural History of Religious Feeling: A Question of Miracles in the Soul by Isaac Amada Cornelison (1911)
"... CHAPTER I tropism WE shall not attempt to frame any definition of religion, as a preliminary to the investigation upon which we are now entering; ..."

7. The Chemic Problem in Nutrition (magnesium Infiltration): A Sketch of the by John Aulde (1912)
"... Abnormal Chemic Stimuli—Acid Excess Hinders Intestinal Digestion —Psychic Stimulus—tropism: Radio-activity—Physiologic Action— Atomic Nature of Radium. ..."

8. Behavior of the Lower Organisms by Herbert Spencer Jennings (1906)
"The tropism, if we attempt to apply the concept at all, is a mere collection ... In other words, the tropism theory would never have been based on the known ..."

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