recombination
UK[ˌriːkɒmbɪˈneɪʃən]US[ˌriːkɑːmbɪˈneɪʃən]
n
The process of combining things, especially genetic material from different sources, to form something new.
n
The rearrangement of parts or elements into a new combination.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
combination
re
again
combination
the act of combining
Etymology
The word 'recombination' is a modern scientific term built upon the classical Latin foundation of 'combination'. The core idea of 'combining' originates from Latin combinare, meaning to unite two things. The prefix re-, also from Latin, introduces the concept of repetition or a return to a previous state. Therefore, the literal morphemic logic is "the act of combining again". This elegantly describes processes where elements that were once joined, separated, and are then joined again, or where existing elements are rearranged into a novel configuration, most prominently in genetics and physics.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + combination (the act of combining)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
combination: From Latin combinare (to unite), itself from com- (together) + bini (two by two). In this word, it functions as the core noun meaning "the act or result of joining things together".
Examples
Genetic recombination increases diversity within a population.
The experiment studied the recombination of ions in the plasma.
The artist's work is a fascinating recombination of classical and digital media.