noun a linguistic process in which words are formed by stringing together morphemes without changing them
In linguistics, agglutination refers to the process of adding affixes to a base word to create complex words. This is commonly seen in languages with agglutinative morphology, such as Turkish or Hungarian.
In chemistry, agglutination can refer to the process of particles sticking together to form larger aggregates, often due to the presence of specific binding molecules or ions.
In biology, agglutination refers to the clumping together of particles, such as red blood cells or bacteria, due to the interaction of antibodies. This process is used in various laboratory tests, such as blood typing.
In linguistics, writers may use the concept of agglutination to describe languages that form words by adding prefixes or suffixes to a base word.
Psychologists may use the term agglutination to refer to a defense mechanism in which separate ideas or feelings are combined into one complex thought or emotion.
Medical doctors may use agglutination tests to detect the presence of specific antibodies in blood samples, which can help diagnose certain infectious diseases.
Chemists may use agglutination reactions in laboratory settings to study the binding of antigens and antibodies, which is important in fields such as immunology and biochemistry.
Anthropologists may use the concept of agglutination to study the evolution of language and the ways in which different cultures form words.
Computer programmers may use agglutination in programming languages to create new words or commands by combining existing ones.
Educators may use the concept of agglutination in language teaching to help students understand how words are formed and how meanings can be altered by adding affixes.
Translators may encounter agglutination in languages that use this method of word formation, and they must be able to accurately convey these complex structures in their translations.