Meanings
recombination1
plural recombinations
- Combination a second or subsequent time.
- biologyThe formation of genetic combinations in offspring that are not present in the parents.
- chemistryThe reverse of dissociation.
Recombination2
- astronomyThe epoch of recombination of the Universe, where atomic matter formed from free particles, combining protons with electrons. One of the Ages of the Universe. The cosmic era when neutral hydrogen formed out of the cosmic soup of protons and electrons in plasma, that condensed out of the energy of the Big Bang. This era produces the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).
Synonyms: Age of Recombination, Epoch of Recombination, Era of Recombination, Recombination Age, Recombination Epoch, Recombination Era
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounThe epoch of recombination of the Universe, where atomic matter formed from free particles, combining protons with electrons. One of the Ages of the Universe. The cosmic era when neutral hydrogen formed out of the cosmic soup of protons and electrons in plasma, that condensed out of the energy of the Big Bang. This era produces the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).
Origin
recombination · noun
- Proto-Italic*wre-
- Latinre-
- Old Frenchre-
- Middle Englishre-
- Englishre-
- Middle Englishcombinacioun
- Englishcombination
- Englishrecombination
From re- + combination.
Full word history & related roots →Recombination · proper noun
From recombination. The name is slightly inaccurate and is given for historical reasons: in fact the electrons and atomic nuclei were combining for the first time.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech rekombinace
- rekombinacein genetics
Dutch recombinatie
- recombinatiein genetics
French recombinaison
- recombinaisonin genetics
Italian ricombinazione, ricombinazione
- ricombinazioneCombination a second or subsequent time.
- ricombinazionein genetics
- ricombinazionein chemistry
Polish rekombinacja
- rekombinacjain genetics
Portuguese recombinação
- recombinaçãoin genetics
Romanian recombinare, recombinări
- recombinareCombination a second or subsequent time.
- recombinăriCombination a second or subsequent time.
- recombinarein chemistry
Spanish recombinación
- recombinaciónin genetics
Cite this entry
recombination. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recombination
“recombination.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recombination. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “recombination,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recombination.
Source: recombination on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.