amyloid

American  

[am-uh-loid] / ˈæm əˌlɔɪd /

noun

1. Biochemistry. a waxy, translucent substance, composed primarily of protein fibers, that is deposited in various organs of animals in certain diseases.

2. a nonnitrogenous food consisting especially of starch.

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adjective

1. Also amyloidal of, resembling, or containing amylum.

amyloid British  

/ ˈæmɪˌlɔɪd /

noun

1. pathol a complex protein resembling starch, deposited in tissues in some degenerative diseases

2. any substance resembling starch

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adjective

1. starchlike

amyloid Scientific  

/ ăm′ə-loid′ /

1. A hard waxy substance consisting of protein and polysaccharides that results from the degeneration of tissue and is deposited in organs or tissues of the body in various chronic diseases.

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1. Starchlike.

Etymology

Origin of amyloid

First recorded in 1855–60; amyl- + -oid

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

amyloid

One group had a genetic tendency to develop amyloid plaques, while the other consisted of "wild-type" mice that aged normally.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

Among the waste products the system clears are proteins called amyloid and tau, the deposits that accumulate in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

A single sleepless night measurably raises amyloid levels in the fluid surrounding the brain.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

By addressing multiple disease mechanisms at once, the drug could represent a broader therapeutic approach than treatments aimed only at amyloid or tau.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

These appearances have given rise to the term waxy degeneration, which suggests a possibility of confusion with the earlier recognized waxy degeneration of organs, due to the presence of amyloid material.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various