Crossword clues for avidity
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Avidity \A*vid"i*ty\, n. [L. aviditas, fr. avidus: cf. F. avidit['e]. See Avid.] Greediness; strong appetite; eagerness; intenseness of desire; as, to eat with avidity.
His books were received and read with avidity.
--Milward.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
mid-15c., "eagerness, zeal," from Old French avidite "avidity, greed," from Latin aviditatem (nominative aviditas) "eagerness, avidity," noun of quality from avidus (see avid).
Wiktionary
n. 1 greediness; strong appetite. 2 eagerness; intenseness of desire. 3 (lb en biochemistry) The measure of the synergism of the strength individual interactions between proteins.
WordNet
Wikipedia
In the context of biochemistry, avidity refers to the accumulated strength of multiple affinities of individual non-covalent binding interactions, such as between a protein receptor and its ligand, and is commonly referred to as functional affinity. As such, avidity is distinct from affinity, which describes the strength of a single interaction. However, because individual binding events increase the likelihood of other interactions to occur (i.e. increase the local concentration of each binding partner in proximity to the binding site), avidity should not be thought of as the mere sum of its constituent affinities but as the combined effect of all affinities participating in the biomolecular interaction. A particular important aspect relates to the phenomenon of ′avidity entropy′. Biomolecules often form heterogenous complexes or homogenous oligomers and multimers or polymers. If clustered proteins form an organized matrix, such as the clathrin-coat, the interaction is a described as matricity.
Usage examples of "avidity".
The confirmation of that truth becomes irresistible when we see how reason and conscience, with delighted avidity, seize upon its adaptedness alike to the brightest features and the darkest defects of the present life, whose imperfect symmetries and segments are harmoniously filled out by the adjusting complement of a future state.
When boiled it is eaten with avidity by sailors returning from long voyages, who happen to land at the South Western corner of Anglesea.
Mr Etermon taking a z-nap on the divan or stealing into the kitchen to sniff with erotic avidity the sizzling stew, represented quite unconsciously a living refutation of individual immortality, since his whole habitus was a dead-end with nothing in it capable or worthy of transcending the mortal condition.
She was devouring Sylva with her eyes, with far more avidity than Sylva displayed in eating her kipper.
With the acuteness of her years, however, Maisie saw that her own avidity would triumph, and she held out the picture to Miss Overmore as if she were quite proud of her mother.
She questioned him with an avidity the thaumaturge might have found unsettling in another person.
Eusebius Chapel at Crea, we accept it with avidity, and we may be sure that the masters who gave us the figures above-named could have given us any number equally realistic if they had been inclined to do so.
I read Marty headnotes with avidity for they always tell me more about the writer than I know, but not more than I want to know, of course.
Qinnitan watched Luian watching Jeddin, which the Favored did with the sort of avidity she usually reserved for things like the rosewa-ter jelly being spooned into her bowl.
I entered into the toils and objects of my race with a seeming avidity more eager and engrossing than their own.
It is the avidity of the dupes which induces the trickery of the sharpers.
Only we four gathered, and there we pursued the Skill with an avidity that frightened me and enthused the rest of them.
Besides I was easy and smiling when my bank was losing, and I won without shewing any avidity, and that is a manner which always pleases the punters.
Harold's eyes crawled over her with great avidity as he came to meet her.
At Laon, imbecile and Jacobin committees attribute the dearness of provisions to the avidity of the rich and the malevolence of the aristocrats according to them, "jealous millionaires grow rich at the expense of the people.