autophagy
Americannoun
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Cell Biology. the process by which a cell breaks down and reabsorbs parts of itself using enzymes it generates.
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the act or process of consuming or digesting oneself.
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Through my research into ocular disease and autophagy, a theme emerged, of normally robust immune systems quietly breaking down.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
The studies showed that chlorpyrifos disrupts autophagy, the cellular system responsible for clearing damaged proteins from cells.
From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026
Diet activates autophagy -- a cellular "clean-up" process that degrades and recycles damaged proteins.
From Science Daily • Oct. 15, 2025
It turns out that a beneficial clean-up mechanism in plant cells called autophagy plays a key role.
From Science Daily • May 15, 2024
"That's a good girl," John applauded; he did not believe in Frida's sudden conquest of autophagy, but he was anxious to encourage her in every way at the moment.
From Poor Relations by MacKenzie, Compton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
