enzyme

B2 Topic:Chemistry

US /ˈɛn.zaɪm/ UK /ˈɛn.zaɪm/ See IPA manual

Freq #21762

Meanings

1

noun
a protein or RNA molecule that catalyzes a biochemical reaction without being consumed by it

The enzyme lactase breaks lactose into simpler sugars.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a protein or rna molecule... biological catalystbiocatalyst

Word family

Forms enzymesenzyme’s

Derived forms abzymealloenzymeapoenzymecoenzyme

Related forms catalystsubstrateproteinribozymezymogen

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

restriction enzyme
an enzyme that cuts DNA at particular recognition sites

Noun + noun

Etymology

From German Enzym, coined in 1878 by physiologist Wilhelm Kühne from Ancient Greek en ("in") + zyme ("leaven"), because fermentation was understood as activity occurring within yeast.

Topics

Chemistry Biology & Genetics Science & Research

External links

markdown