cross-link

Meanings

Noun

• A covalent bond (or series of bonds) between adjacent chains of a polymer
• A similar bond between strands of nucleic acid

Verb

• To join polymer chains together to form one single molecule. An object made from a crosslinked material contains only one supergiant molecule. Crosslinking may take place through covalent bonds or ionic bonds
• To bolster up the references of databases or elements in a database to each other, to deorphan sensu lato

Origin

• From cross- + link