chitin
[ kahy-tin ]
/ ˈkaɪ tɪn /
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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.
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OTHER WORDS FROM chitin
chi·tin·ous, chi·tin·oid, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for chitin
British Dictionary definitions for chitin
chitin
/ (ˈkaɪtɪn) /
noun
a polysaccharide that is the principal component of the exoskeletons of arthropods and of the bodies of fungi
Derived forms of chitin
chitinous, adjectivechitinoid, adjectiveWord Origin for chitin
C19: from French chitine, from Greek khitōn chiton + -in
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medical definitions for chitin
chitin
[ kīt′n ]
n.
A tough, protective, semitransparent polysaccharide forming the principal component of arthropod exoskeletons and the cell walls of certain fungi.
Other words from chitin
chi′tin•ous adj.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for chitin
chitin
[ 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).
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.