rem
UK[rɛm]US[rɛm]
n
A unit of effective absorbed dose of ionizing radiation in human tissue, equivalent to one roentgen of X-rays.
Etymology
The word 'rem' is a modern scientific acronym, coined in the mid-20th century during the development of radiation protection standards. It is derived from the phrase "roentgen equivalent man," where "roentgen" honors Wilhelm Röntgen, the discoverer of X-rays. The term was created to provide a practical unit for measuring the biological effect of different types of ionizing radiation on human tissue. As an acronym, it represents a direct conceptual borrowing and repackaging, forming a new, indivisible lexical unit in scientific English.
Analysis
This is an acronym, not formed from classical morphemes. It originates from the initial letters of "roentgen equivalent man" (or "roentgen equivalent mammal").
Examples
The safety guidelines limit exposure to 0.1 rem per year for the general public.
Different types of radiation deliver varying biological damage per rem.
The patient received a total dose of five rem during the diagnostic procedure.