mucin

American  

[myoo-sin] / ˈmju sɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of glycoproteins found in saliva, gastric juice, etc., that form viscous solutions and act as lubricants or protectants on external and internal surfaces of the body.

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mucin British  

/ ˈmjuːsɪn /

noun

1. biochem any of a group of nitrogenous mucoproteins occurring in saliva, skin, tendon, etc, that produce a very viscous solution in water

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Other Word Forms

• mucinoid
  adjective
• mucinous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of mucin

First recorded in 1825–35; muc- + -in ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mucin

Rather than concentrating on nerve or muscle function, the researchers turned their attention to colonic mucin.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 19, 2026

K-beauty products are often more attractively priced than their Western counterparts - but also feature ingredients that are not as commonly found in the West - from heartleaf to snail mucin.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2025

After a snail mucus skin care boom in South Korea, the product—also referred to as snail mucin or secretion—was widely shared on social media.

From National Geographic ● Jan. 8, 2024

One particular item took off — a snail mucin essence from popular Korean brand COSRX.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2023

It consists in transplanting between the bones a flap of fat-bearing tissue, from which a bursal cavity lined with endothelium and containing a fluid rich in mucin is ultimately formed.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Alexis Thomson