casein

American

[kay-seen, -see-in, kay-seen] / ˈkeɪ sin, -si ɪn, keɪˈsin /

noun

Biochemistry. a protein precipitated from milk, as by rennet, and forming the basis of cheese and certain plastics.
Fine Arts.
1. an emulsion made from a solution of this precipitated protein, water, and ammonia carbonate.
2. a paint in which this emulsion is used as a binder.
3. a picture produced with this paint and emulsion.

casein British

/ ˈkeɪsɪɪn, -siːn /

noun

Also called (US): paracasein. a phosphoprotein, precipitated from milk by the action of rennin, forming the basis of cheese: used in the manufacture of plastics and adhesives

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

casein Scientific

/ kā′sēn′,-sē-ĭn /

A white, tasteless, odorless mixture of related phosphoproteins precipitated from milk by rennin. Casein is very nutritious, as it contains all of the essential amino acids as well as all of the common nonessential ones. It is the basis of cheese and is used to make plastics, adhesives, paints, and foods.

Etymology

Origin of casein

1835–45; < Latin cāse ( us ) cheese ¹ + -in ²

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.

See Examples For:

casein

"With dairy products, it's got two proteins -- casein and whey -- that are bound together with fat and with nutrients mixed in," says Anderson.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

The study found that diets rich in casein, the primary protein found in milk and cheese, along with wheat gluten, greatly reduced how much cholera bacteria could colonize the gut.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 7, 2026

The process starts with yeast that has been genetically modified to produce casein, the key protein in milk, instead of alcohol.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2025

Other companies also use bacteria or fungi to produce casein.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2025

In badly-washed or badly-worked butter, from which the buttermilk has not been properly removed, the proportion of casein or curd left in the product may be considerable, and such butter has only inferior keeping qualities.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9 "Dagupan" to "David" by Various

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023