 affinity |
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| 1. | [ noun ] (immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody | |
| Related terms: | attraction immunology | |
| 2. | [ noun ] inherent resemblance between persons or things | |
| Related terms: | resemblance | |
| 3. | [ noun ] (physics) the force attracting atoms to each other and binding them together in a molecule | |
| Synonyms: | chemical_attraction | |
| Examples: | : "basic dyes have an affinity for wool and silk" |
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| Related terms: | force | |
| 4. | [ noun ] a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character | |
| Synonyms: | kinship | |
| Examples: | : "found a natural affinity with the immigrants" "felt a deep kinship with the other students" "anthropology's kinship with the humanities" |
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| Related terms: | relation sympathy rapport | |
| 5. | [ noun ] (biology) state of relationship between organisms or groups of organisms resulting in resemblance in structure or structural parts | |
| Synonyms: | phylogenetic_relation | |
| Examples: | : "in anatomical structure prehistoric man shows close affinity with modern humans" |
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| Related terms: | kinship biology | |
| 6. | [ noun ] kinship by marriage or adoption; not a blood relationship | |
| Synonyms: | kinship_by_marriage | |
| Related terms: | consanguinity kinship steprelationship | |
| 7. | [ noun ] a natural attraction or feeling of kinship | |
| Examples: | : "an affinity for politics" "the mysterious affinity between them" "James's affinity with Sam" |
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| Related terms: | attraction | |
| Similar spelling: |
affiant affined |
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