Cyclizing

/ˈsaɪ.kloʊ.aɪ.zɪŋ/ verb

Definition

The process or action of converting into or forming a ring-shaped molecular structure.

Etymology

Present participle of 'cyclize,' combining cyclo- (Greek kyklos) with -izing (the gerund/present participle suffix -ing). Used in chemistry since the late 19th century.

Kelly Says

Many natural products—from the caffeine in coffee to the structure of cholesterol—form through cyclizing reactions, which is why chemists often focus on controlling this process to build complex molecules from simple starting materials.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.