n 1  :  any of the alternative forms of a gene that may occur at a given locus  2  :  either of a pair of alternative Mendelian characters (as ability versus inability to taste the chemical phenylthiocarbamide) al*le*lic adj al*lel*ism n 
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  ala·lia  al·lyl 
 
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