Recessive Meaning
/ɹɪˈsɛsɪv/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjGoing back; receding.
adjAble to be masked by a dominant allele or trait.
Sentence Examples
The child inherited the recessive gene for blue eyes from both parents.
The study explores the expression of various types of recessive traits.
Blue eyes are a result of a recessive gene.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
None
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ trait remains hidden when a dominant allele is present, appearing only when both alleles match.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The disease is caused by a ____ gene that must be inherited from both parents to be expressed.
Word Origin & History
From Latin recēdō + -ive, or directly from New Latin recessīvus.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"This plan takes advantage of the fact that barless is the most recessive of a series of alleles."
— 1988, American Pigeon Journal, volume 76, page 36:
"The series of murine Agouti alleles is a consistent array as it progresses from the most recessive to the most dominant allele (Jackson, 1994)."
— 2001, D. P. Sponenberg, M. F. Rothschild, 6: Genetics of Coat Colour and Hair Texture, page 65:
"The worker–client relationship is more recessive and has a more catalytic and enabling quality."
— 1979, Ken Heap, Process and Action in Work with Groups: The Preconditions for Treatment and Growth, page ix:
"The law-making or legislative component was the most recessive component of the legal system of hunter-gatherers, although decisions or advice given by mediators were remembered and used again to settle similar violations of rules or disputes among parties."
— 2004, Jonathan H. Turner, Human Institutions: A Theory of Societal Evolution, page 112:
"Suppose, for example, that we started with a population consisting of pure dominants, heterozygotes, and recessives in the ratio 1 : 4 : 4."
— 1915, Reginald Crundall Punnett, Mimicty in Butterflies, page 95:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ trait remains hidden when a dominant allele is present, appearing only when both alleles match.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The disease is caused by a ____ gene that must be inherited from both parents to be expressed.