tropism Definition
the turning of all or part of an organism in a particular direction in response to an external stimulus, such as light or gravity.
Using tropism: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tropism" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The plant's tropism towards the sun is known as phototropism.
Example
The roots of the plant show positive geotropism, growing downwards towards the center of the earth.
Example
The Venus Flytrap exhibits rapid thigmonastic movement in response to touch, which is a form of tropism.
tropism Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for tropism
- reaction
- sensitivity
- response
Phrases with tropism
the growth or movement of a plant in response to light
Example
The sunflower exhibits positive phototropism by turning its face towards the sun.
the growth or movement of a plant in response to gravity
Example
The roots of the plant exhibit positive geotropism by growing downwards towards the center of the earth.
the growth or movement of a plant in response to touch or contact stimuli
Example
The tendrils of the pea plant exhibit thigmotropism by coiling around any object they come into contact with.
Summary: tropism in Brief
Tropism [ˈtrəʊpɪzəm] refers to the turning of an organism or part of an organism in response to an external stimulus, such as light, gravity, or touch. Examples include phototropism, geotropism, and thigmotropism. Tropism is a fundamental mechanism for plants to adapt to their environment.
