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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

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.

See Examples For:

chitin

Rather than acting like a conventional fast-acting poison, it disrupts the insect's ability to manufacture enough chitin for the next exoskeleton.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

Industrial processing can make it possible to use the nutritional benefits of insects without requiring people to directly digest as much of the chitin in their exoskeletons.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

The team also examined genes involved in breaking down chitin, a major component of insect exoskeletons.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

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

From Science Daily ● Nov. 21, 2025

Ned thinks the segments of the legs are made of chitin too.

From The Insect Folk by Margaret Warner Morley

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