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valence

/ˈveɪləns/

noun

Meaning

  • An extract; a preparation, now especially one effective against a certain number of strains of a pathogen.

  • The combining capacity of an atom, radical or functional group determined by the number of electrons that it will lose, gain, or share when it combines with other atoms etc.

  • The number of binding sites of a molecule, such as an antibody or antigen.

  • The number of arguments that a verb can have, including its subject, ranging from zero (for the likes of "It rains") to three (for the likes of "He gives her a flower") or, less commonly, four.

    "The number of bonds that a verb has constitutes what we will call the valence of the verb."

  • A one-dimensional value assigned to an object, situation, or state, that can usually be positive or negative.

    "anger and fear have negative valence"

  • Value.

Synonyms

valency,
valency