Having the quality of being able to bind, attach, or fasten; capable of adhering to or grasping something.
From Greek 'haptein' meaning 'to fasten' combined with 'phoros' meaning 'bearing' or 'carrying,' with the adjective suffix '-ous.' An older or more formal variant of 'haptophoric.'
You'll see 'haptophorous' in older scientific literature, but modern scientists prefer 'haptophoric'—it's a perfect example of how terminology changes to become simpler and more standardized, even in highly technical fields.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.