polymer

A polymer is a substance composed of molecules with large molecular mass made up of repeating structural units.

The word is derived from the Greek ‘polu’ meaning ‘many’ and ‘meros’ meaning ‘part’.

Well-known examples of polymers include plastics, DNA and proteins.

Natural polymer materials such as shellac and amber have been in use for centuries.

A variety of other natural polymers exist, such as cellulose, which is the main constituent of wood and paper.