carbonic anhydrase

[ an-hahy-dreys, -dreyz ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible combination of carbon dioxide with water in red blood cells.

carbonic anhydrase

noun

1. an enzyme in blood cells that catalyses the decomposition of carbonic acid into carbon dioxide and water, facilitating the transport of carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs

Word History and Origins

Origin of carbonic anhydrase¹

First recorded in 1835–45; anhydr- + -ase