lytic

¹ American  

[lit-ik] / ˈlɪt ɪk /

adjective

1. of, noting, or pertaining to lysis or a lysin.

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-lytic ² American  

1. a combining form occurring in adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -lysis:

   analytic; paralytic.

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lytic ¹ British  

/ ˈlɪtɪk /

adjective

1. relating to, causing, or resulting from lysis

2. of or relating to a lysin

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-lytic ² British  

combining form

1. indicating a loosening or dissolving

   paralytic

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Usage

What does -lytic mean? The combining form -lytic is used like a suffix meaning “of or relating to breaking down, loosening, decomposition.” The form -lytic denotes adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -lysis. It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in medicine.The form -lytic comes from Greek lytikós, meaning “able to loosen.”What are variants of -lytic?The suffix -lytic is related to the combining forms -lyse, -lyze, and -lyte. The forms -lyse and -lyze are used to form verbs relating to nouns ending in -lysis, as in analyze. The form -lyte denotes something subjected to a noun ending in -lysis, as in electrolyte. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for those forms.

Etymology

Origin of lytic¹

First recorded in 1885–90, lytic is from the Greek word lytikós able to loosen. See -lyte ¹, -ic

Origin of -lytic²

lytic

Example Sentences

As a whole, the group's findings suggested a mechanism of lytic EBV in MS that promoted inflammation and disease.

From Science Daily

"Our work with these SLCLs shows that the problematic inflammation signaling from lytic EBV can be selectively targeted in a way that demonstrably reduces damaging immune responses," said Dr. Lieberman.

From Science Daily

Subsequent cryo-electron tomographic analysis visualized the step-by-step details of how this secretion system exports cellular contents via a previously unknown lytic mode of action that overcomes the three barriers surrounding gram-negative bacteria.

From Science Daily

This behavior is known as the lysogenic cycle, in contrast to the lytic cycle in which a virus copies itself before bursting out of its host cell and destroying it.

From Salon

To address the issue, Hatfull’s team genetically engineered the misbehaving phage to express lytic behavior.

From Salon