translocation

noun

trans·​lo·​ca·​tion ˌtran(t)s-lō-ˈkā-shən 

ˌtranz-

: the act, process, or an instance of changing location or position: such as

a

: the conduction of soluble material (such as metabolic products) from one part of a plant to another

b

: transfer of part of a chromosome to a different position especially on a nonhomologous chromosome

especially : the exchange of parts between nonhomologous chromosomes

translocate

ˈtran(t)s-lō-ˌkāt 

ˈtranz-lō-

(ˌ)tran(t)s-ˈlō-

(ˌ)tranz-ˈlō-

verb

Examples of translocation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The monumental move marks one of Kenya’s most significant translocations to date, and the first time Loisaba has seen rhinos since poachers killed off the last of the species there 50 years ago. —Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024

So states looking to maximize the amount of funds available for GPS collars, or translocation projects, or to do landscape-scale habitat work, are better off with the arrangement that raises the most revenue. —Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2024

The prevalence of balanced translocation carriers is 0.25%. —David Sable, STAT, 22 Feb. 2024

Moreover, even if the will existed to save the thousands of species threatened by climate change by moving them all, is such large-scale translocation really possible? —Moises Velasquez-Manoff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

translocation

noun

trans·​lo·​ca·​tion ˌtran(t)s-lō-ˈkā-shən, ˌtranz- 

1

: transfer of part of a chromosome to a different position especially on a nonhomologous chromosome

especially : the exchange of parts between nonhomologous chromosomes

2

: a chromosome or part of a chromosome that has undergone translocation

translocate

-ˈlō-ˌkāt 

verb

translocated; translocating