morgan

morgan — noun

1. a unit used in genetics to measure how far apart two genes sit on the same chrom

1.noun
Definition

a unit used in genetics to measure how far apart two genes sit on the same chromosome, based on how often they separate when chromosomes swap segments during cell division — one morgan equals 100% recombination frequency.

Example

When Lara mapped the fruit-fly genes, she found two markers about 0.5 morgan apart on the chromosome.

quantitative expression: [number] morgan apart

Hiro's genetics report showed that the gene pair had a recombination frequency close to one full morgan.

recombination frequency; scientific context

Common collocations
  • one morgan
  • 0.5 morgan
  • morgan apart
  • morgan distance
Synonyms

Usage Note

Almost never used in everyday genetics work — researchers nearly always refer to the smaller centimorgan (cM). A single morgan equals 100 centimorgans.

2. John Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), a powerful American banker and financier who h

2.noun
Definition

John Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), a powerful American banker and financier who helped reorganise major US railroads and founded the financial firm that bears his name, known for personally rescuing the US economy during the Panic of 1907.

Example

In 1901, J.P. Morgan helped create the United States Steel Corporation, the world's first billion-dollar company.

creation of US Steel; corporate finance

During the Panic of 1907, Morgan summoned the city's top bankers to his library to arrange emergency funding for failing banks.

Common collocations
  • J.P. Morgan
  • J.P. Morgan Chase
  • Morgan Library
  • Panic of 1907
Synonyms

Usage Note

J.P. Morgan (1837–1913) is the father of J.P. Morgan Jr. (1867–1943). In modern writing, 'J.P. Morgan' alone almost always refers to the father unless the context specifies 'Jr.' The financial firm JPMorgan Chase is named after him.

Common Mistakes

J.P. Morgan founded the bank in the 2000s.
J.P. Morgan founded his banking house in the late 1800s.
J.P. Morgan died in 1913; the modern bank JPMorgan Chase was formed by later mergers.

3. a medium-sized, sturdy horse breed that was developed in New England from a sing

3.noun
Definition

a medium-sized, sturdy horse breed that was developed in New England from a single foundation stallion named Figure, valued for its gentle nature, endurance, and ability to work under saddle or in harness.

Example

The Morgan is often chosen for trail riding because of its calm disposition and sure-footedness.

Morgan as breed name with definite article

Evelyn competed in the dressage event riding a handsome chestnut Morgan stallion.

Common collocations
  • Morgan horse
  • Morgan stallion
  • ride a Morgan
  • raise Morgans

Usage Note

When referring to the breed as a whole, use 'the Morgan' (singular with definite article). For individual horses, use 'a Morgan' or 'Morgans' (plural). The breed name is always capitalised.

4. John Pierpont Morgan Jr. (1867–1943), the son of financier J.P. Morgan, who took

4.noun
Definition

John Pierpont Morgan Jr. (1867–1943), the son of financier J.P. Morgan, who took over the family banking business after his father's death and led it through World War I and the Great Depression.

Example

J.P. Morgan Jr. took control of the banking house after his father passed away in 1913.

succession; generational transition

During World War I, Morgan Jr. arranged huge loans for Britain and France through his bank.

Common collocations
  • J.P. Morgan Jr.
  • the younger Morgan
  • Jack Morgan
Synonyms
  • Jack Morgan

    informal nickname used by family and close associates

Usage Note

To distinguish father from son in writing, use 'J.P. Morgan Jr.' or 'the younger Morgan' on first reference. After that, the context of the era makes clear which is meant.

5. Sir Henry Morgan (1635–1688), a Welsh privateer and later Lieutenant Governor of

5.noun
Definition

Sir Henry Morgan (1635–1688), a Welsh privateer and later Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica who led raids against Spanish settlements in the Caribbean during the 1660s and 1670s.

Example

Henry Morgan led a fleet of privateer ships to capture Panama City from the Spanish in 1671.

privateer raid on Panama City

After his raids, Morgan was knighted by King Charles II and appointed to govern Jamaica.

Common collocations
  • Henry Morgan
  • Sir Henry Morgan
  • Captain Morgan

Usage Note

Sir Henry Morgan is routinely called 'Henry Morgan' in both popular and academic writing. The knighthood title 'Sir' is used only in formal references.

6. Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866–1945), an American geneticist who won the Nobel Prize i

6.noun
Definition

Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866–1945), an American geneticist who won the Nobel Prize in 1933 for discovering the role of chromosomes in heredity through experiments on fruit flies.

Example

Thomas Hunt Morgan's fruit-fly experiments proved that genes are carried on chromosomes.

core discovery: genes on chromosomes

Morgan bred thousands of generations of Drosophila in his laboratory at Columbia University.

Common collocations
  • Thomas Hunt Morgan
  • T.H. Morgan
  • Morgan's fruit flies
  • Drosophila experiments
Synonyms
  • T.H. Morgan

    standard abbreviated name used in academic writing

Usage Note

Thomas Hunt Morgan is the namesake of the 'morgan' unit used in genetic mapping. He is sometimes called 'T.H. Morgan' in academic citations.

7. William Wilson Morgan (1906–1994), an American astronomer who developed the MK s

7.noun
Definition

William Wilson Morgan (1906–1994), an American astronomer who developed the MK spectral classification system for stars and helped map the spiral structure of the Milky Way galaxy.

Example

William Wilson Morgan created the Morgan–Keenan system that astronomers still use to classify stars by their spectra.

MK spectral classification system

Morgan's maps of the Milky Way revealed that its spiral arms are dotted with bright young stars.

Common collocations
  • W.W. Morgan
  • Morgan–Keenan system
  • MK classification
  • Yerkes Observatory
Synonyms
  • W.W. Morgan

    standard abbreviated name in astronomy publications

Usage Note

In astronomy literature, 'W.W. Morgan' is standard. His MK classification system remains the global standard for stellar spectral typing.

8. John Hunt Morgan (1825–1864), a Confederate cavalry officer during the American

8.noun
Definition

John Hunt Morgan (1825–1864), a Confederate cavalry officer during the American Civil War who led a famous raid through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio in 1863.

Example

John Hunt Morgan led over two thousand cavalrymen on a raid that covered a thousand miles.

Morgan's Raid — scale and distance

Morgan's cavalry destroyed Union supply depots and railroad bridges during the summer of 1863.

Common collocations
  • Morgan's Raid
  • John Hunt Morgan
  • Confederate cavalry

Usage Note

His 1863 campaign is almost always called 'Morgan's Raid' in Civil War literature. The name 'Morgan' alone may cause confusion with other historical figures of the same surname.

Idioms

Daniel Morgan

idiom

Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), an American military officer who led riflemen during the American Revolutionary War and won a decisive victory at the Battle of Cowpens in 1781.

Daniel Morgan trained his sharpshooters to reload while running toward the enemy line.

At Cowpens, Morgan used a clever retreat-and-surround plan to defeat a larger British force.

Word family

  • centimorgan
    noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four terms refer to members of the Morgan banking dynasty, but they point to different people and registers. 'J.P. Morgan' is the default name for the father (1837–1913) in both popular and financial writing. 'John Pierpont Morgan' is the full formal name, used in biographical prefaces or official documents. 'J.P. Morgan Jr.' or 'John Pierpont Morgan Jr.' identifies the son (1867–1943), who took over after his father's death — if the text discusses the 1920s or later, it is likely about the son. 'Jack Morgan' was the son's private nickname, used mostly in personal letters and memoirs. In most historical and financial writing, saying 'J.P. Morgan raised capital for US Steel' refers to the father, while 'J.P. Morgan Jr. arranged loans for the Allies' refers to the son.

J.P. MorganJohn Pierpont MorganJ.P. Morgan Jr.Jack Morgan

Common collocations

Nouns

  • morgan unit
  • Morgan horse
  • Morgan breed

Etymology

Old WelshEnglish

The word 'morgan' has several origins because it is used for different concepts named after different people. The genetic unit and the horse breed both take their name from individuals named Morgan. The genetic unit (1920s) was named after the American geneticist Thomas Hunt Morgan, who won a Nobel Prize for his work on fruit-fly chromosomes. The horse breed (early 1800s) was named after Justin Morgan, the owner of the foundation stallion Figure. The personal name Morgan itself comes from an Old Welsh name Morcant, composed of 'mor' (sea) and 'cant' (circle), meaning 'sea chief' or 'sea dweller.'

First known use

1919

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2)