1. a molecule consisting of a small number of identical or similar subunits (monomers) bonded together, typically between 2 and 10 units.
Usage: chemistry and biochemistry term; commonly used in polymer science and molecular biology

Examples

• A dimer is the simplest type of oligomer, containing just two monomer units.
• Proteins can form oligomers when multiple polypeptide chains associate together.
• The researchers studied how the oligomer breaks down into individual monomers.
• Oligomers of glucose are found in many carbohydrate structures.
• The formation of oligomers is an intermediate step between monomers and large polymers.