collagen

[kol-uh-juhn]

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of extracellular proteins abundant in higher animals, especially in the skin, bone, cartilage, tendon, and teeth, forming strong insoluble fibers and serving as connective tissue between cells, yielding gelatin when denatured by boiling.

collagen

/ ˈkɒlədʒən, ˌkɒləˈdʒɛnɪk, kəˈlædʒənəs /

noun

1. a fibrous scleroprotein of connective tissue and bones that is rich in glycine and proline and yields gelatine on boiling

collagen

1. Any of various tough, fibrous proteins found in bone, cartilage, skin, and other connective tissue. Collagens have great tensile strength, and provide these body structures with the ability to withstand forces that stretch them. Collagens consist of three polypeptide chains arranged in a triple helix, and are bundled together in fibers. When boiled in water, collagen is converted into gelatin.

Other Word Forms

• collagenic adjective
• collagenous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of collagen¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from Greek kólla “glue” + -gen

Word History and Origins

Origin of collagen¹

C19: from Greek kolla glue + _-gen

Example Sentences

In online communities dedicated to weight-loss drugs, people share tips about how they hope to reduce loose skin through building muscle, taking collagen supplements and using lotions.

From BBC

It could be as basic as protein powder, collagen and a greens powder or it can be as elaborate as all the berries, hemp seeds, beet powder and spinach.

From Los Angeles Times

Collagen is a protein vital to skin elasticity and firmness, but there's little evidence that fabric containing collagen can deliver measurable benefits.

From BBC

Salmon DNA, as it turns out, shares striking similarities to human DNA, causing it to stimulate collagen production, according to a 2022 peer-reviewed study in the journal Marine Drugs.

From Los Angeles Times

“A lot of the laser treatments that we do, which are FDA-cleared for things like collagen stimulation and resurfacing of the skin, are actually much more cost-effective.”

From Los Angeles Times