Adjacent Words

geotropism definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an orienting response to gravity

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1875 a tropism (as of plant roots) in which gravity is the orienting factor

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. plant growth in relation to gravity. Phrases and idioms: negative geotropism the tendency of stems etc. to grow away from the centre of the earth. positive geotropism the tendency of roots to grow towards the centre of the earth. Derivatives: geotropic adj. Etymology: GEO- + Gk tropikos f. trope a turning f. trepo to turn

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Geotropism Ge*ot"ro*pism, n. [Gr. ge`a, gh^, the earth + ? to turn.] (Biol.) A disposition to turn or incline towards the earth; the influence of gravity in determining the direction of growth of an organ. Note: In plants, organs which grow towards the center of the earth are said to be positively geotropic, and those growing in the opposite direction negatively geotropic. In animals, geotropism is supposed by some to have an influence either direct or indirect on the plane of division of the ovum.