chitin

American  

[kahy-tin] / ˈkaɪ tɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide, related chemically to cellulose, that forms a semitransparent horny substance and is a principal constituent of the exoskeleton, or outer covering, of insects, crustaceans, and arachnids.

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chitin British  

/ ˈkaɪtɪn /

noun

1. a polysaccharide that is the principal component of the exoskeletons of arthropods and of the bodies of fungi

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chitin Scientific  

/ kīt′n /

1. A tough, semitransparent substance that is the main component of the exoskeletons of arthropods, such as the shells of crustaceans and the outer coverings of insects. Chitin is also found in the cell walls of certain fungi and algae. Chemically, it is a nitrogenous polysaccharide (a carbohydrate).

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Other Word Forms

• chitinoid adjective
• chitinous adjective

Etymology

Origin of chitin

1830–40; < French chitine < Greek chit ( ṓn ) tunic, chiton + French -ine -in ²

Compare meaning

How does chitin compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• chitin vs. cellulose

Example Sentences

"This is the spider's most vulnerable region since other parts have a lot of chitin, which forms an exoskeleton difficult for the mites' fangs to penetrate," the researcher explains.

From Science Daily

Removing the chitin synthase gene resulted in a thinner cell wall, which made the internal protein more accessible for digestion.

From Science Daily

However, the bristle worms have a somewhat softer chitin -- the so-called beta chitin -- which is particularly interesting for biomedical applications.

From Science Daily

One tricky aspect of recycling, though, is that sometimes the recycling process is chemically intensive, and this is the case for recycling one of the world's most abundant materials -- chitin.

From Science Daily

Chitosan is a sugary polymer that can be easily made from the chitin shells of shellfish and has already found its way into wide-ranging commercial applications.

From Science Daily