single-subunit
|sin-gle-sub-u-nit|
/ˌsɪŋɡəlˈsʌbjuːnɪt/
one component
Etymology
'single-subunit' originates from modern English compounding of 'single' and 'subunit', formed to describe an entity made of one subunit.
'subunit' itself is formed from the Latin prefix 'sub-' (meaning 'under' or 'secondary') + 'unit' from Latin 'unitas'/'unus' (meaning 'one'). 'single' comes from Old English (compare Old English 'sengel' / Middle English 'single') meaning 'one; individual'. The compound 'single-subunit' is a modern technical formation built from these elements.
Initially the constituents meant 'one' ('single') and 'a unit/secondary unit' ('subunit'); combined in modern usage they specifically mean 'composed of one subunit' in technical/biological contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a single component (subunit) of a larger complex or assembly.
Each single subunit must fold correctly before the complex can assemble.
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Adjective 1
consisting of or composed of a single subunit (not multimeric).
The enzyme is a single-subunit protein that functions without assembling into multimers.
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Last updated: 2025/12/07 22:56