collagen

[ kol-uh-juhn ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of extracellular proteins abundant in higher animals, especially in the skin, bone, cartilage, tendon, and teeth, forming strong insoluble fibers and serving as connective tissue between cells, yielding gelatin when denatured by boiling.

collagen

/ ˈkɒlədʒən; kəˈlædʒənəs; ˌkɒləˈdʒɛnɪk /

noun

1. a fibrous scleroprotein of connective tissue and bones that is rich in glycine and proline and yields gelatine on boiling

collagen

/ kŏl′ə-jən /

1. Any of various tough, fibrous proteins found in bone, cartilage, skin, and other connective tissue. Collagens have great tensile strength, and provide these body structures with the ability to withstand forces that stretch them. Collagens consist of three polypeptide chains arranged in a triple helix, and are bundled together in fibers. When boiled in water, collagen is converted into gelatin.

Derived Forms

• collagenic, adjective

Other Words From

• col·lag·e·nous [k, uh, -, laj, -, uh, -n, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of collagen¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from Greek kólla “glue” + -gen

Word History and Origins

Origin of collagen¹

C19: from Greek kolla glue + -gen

Example Sentences

Fudge and Kruppa agree that it’s also worth considering supplemental protein, amino acids, and collagen.

From Outside Online

There is also collagen powder derived from fish or cowhide, which can increase skin, joint, bone, and gut health.

From Popular-Science

When you bite into a piece of meat you encounter fats, connective tissue like collagen, that juice dripping down your chin … it’s all part of the sensory experience.

From MIT Technology Review

Stones presumably used a long time ago to break fresh mastodon bones should have picked up residue containing at least some collagen.

From Science News

The newly analyzed bone residue also does not include collagen.

From Science News

At one point, I was encased in a jelly-green-tea collagen mask, which was awesome.

From The Daily Beast

Because “human-engineered collagen” is clearly the path to a better sex life.

From The Daily Beast

As goatskins are so tight fibred, a longer liming and a greater loss of collagen is permissible than with most pelts for chrome.

From Project Gutenberg

By boiling with water, dilute acids or dilute alkalies, collagen is split up into gelatin or glutin.

From Project Gutenberg