thigmotaxis
noun
thig·mo·tax·is
ˌthig-mə-ˈtak-səs 
: a taxis in which contact especially with a solid body is the directive factor
Examples of thigmotaxis in a Sentence
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The instinct to do so is known as thigmotaxis: the tendency to move toward physical contact—in this case, not only with other stinkbugs but with almost any surface.
—
Steven Strogatz, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2011
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Steven Strogatz, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Thigmotaxis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thigmotaxis. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thigmotaxis
noun
thig·mo·tax·is
ˌthig-mə-ˈtak-səs
: a taxis in which contact especially with a solid or rigid surface is the stimulus directing the movement of an organism
Medical Definition
thigmotaxis
noun
thig·mo·tax·is
ˌthig-mə-ˈtak-səs
plural thigmotaxes
-ˌsēz
: a taxis in which contact especially with a solid body is the directive factor
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