BZ reaction

noun

(ˈ)bē-¦zē- 

: belousov-zhabotinsky reaction

Rotating spirals—and some other interesting patterns—can be observed in a beautiful chemistry experiment … . It is known as the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction, or BZ reaction for short—usually pronounced 'beezee' in the American style.

—Ian Stewart, The Magical Maze, 1999

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!