woodward

IPA/wˈʊdwəd/
KK[wˈʊdwˌɔrd]IPA/wˈʊdwˌɔːrd/

woodward — noun

1. Robert Burns Woodward (1917–1979), an American chemist who won the Nobel Prize i

1.noun
Definition

Robert Burns Woodward (1917–1979), an American chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1965. He was famous for discovering the structure of many complex natural substances and for being able to produce them in the laboratory — for example, quinine, chlorophyll, and vitamin B₁₂.

Example

At the 1965 ceremony in Stockholm, Woodward smiled as he received the Nobel Prize.

collocation: receive the Nobel Prize for [field]

Sora studied Woodward's laboratory papers to learn how he created the quinine molecule.

pattern: study [someone]'s papers to learn how [clause]

Common collocations
  • Woodward–Hoffmann rules
  • Woodward's rules
  • Woodward synthesis
  • Woodward's total synthesis

Usage Note

In chemistry contexts, 'Woodward' almost always refers to Robert Burns Woodward. The name may also appear in compound terms such as Woodward–Hoffmann rules (a set of principles in organic chemistry) and Woodward's rules (for predicting UV absorption).

Word family

  • Woodwardian
    adjective

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

As a biographical proper noun, Woodward has no direct synonyms. In chemistry writing, the surname alone is sufficient to refer to Robert Burns Woodward; full name Robert Burns Woodward is used in formal bibliographic or introductory references.

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Woodward–Hoffmann rules
  • Woodward's rules
  • Woodward synthesis
  • Woodward's total synthesis

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Woodward is an English surname that originally meant 'forest keeper' — from Old English 'wudu' (wood) and 'weard' (guard or keeper). Robert Burns Woodward (1917–1979) was an American chemist whose last name became widely known in science for his contributions to organic chemistry.