chitin

American

[kahy-tin] / ˈkaɪ tɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

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.

chitin British

/ ˈkaɪtɪn /

noun

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

"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

chitin Scientific

/ kīt′n /

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).

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Vocabulary lists containing chitin

Biochemistry

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Microbiology - High School

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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.

Instead of poisoning termites in a broad, fast acting way, it prevents them from making the chitin they need for their next protective shell.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2026

"You don't have to apply too much to get a very good result. The chitin synthesis inhibitors show promise as localized treatment for drywood termites."

From Science Daily • May 9, 2026

How exactly the chitin is formed into distinct bristles has so far remained enigmatic.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2024

Yangchao Luo from UConn's College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources and his group have tackled this problem and found a way to sustainably recover chitin from seafood waste.

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

This chitin diaphragm picks up the microwave like our ears pick up sound.

From The Kenzie Report by Clifton, Mark

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