diastase

[ dahy-uh-steys, -steyz ]

an enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose, then dextrose, and is present in malt.

Origin of diastase

<French diastase (1833) <Greek diástasis;see diastasis, -ase

Words Nearby diastase

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use diastase in a sentence

You will remember that starch in the growing corn grain was changed to grape sugar by an enzyme called diastase.
A Civic Biology | George William Hunter
The distiller mixes the malt with warm water, whereupon the diastase commences the conversion of the starch of the grain.
The Romance of War Inventions | Thomas W. Corbin
This is effected by a secretion called diastase which is found in the tubers in the immediate vicinity of the eyes or buds.
The Church of England Magazine - Volume 10, No. 263, January 9, 1841 | Various
For the conversion of potato or other starch into dextrine, by the action of diastase, see this article.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines | Andrew Ure
Gum arabic, cane sugar, and beer yeast, suffer no change from diastase.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines | Andrew Ure

British Dictionary definitions for diastase

diastase

/ (ˈdaɪəˌsteɪs, -ˌsteɪz) /

noun

any of a group of enzymes that hydrolyse starch to maltose. They are present in germinated barley and in the pancreas: See also amylase

Origin of diastase

C19: from French, from Greek diastasis a separation; see diastasis

Derived forms of diastase

diastasic, adjective

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

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