fibroin

American

[fahy-broh-in] / ˈfaɪ broʊ ɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

an indigestible protein that is a principal component of spider webs and silk.

fibroin British

/ ˈfaɪbrəʊɪn /

noun

a tough elastic protein that is the principal component of spiders' webs and raw silk

"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

Etymology

Origin of fibroin

1860–65; < French fibroïne; see fibro-, -in ²

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.

When examined under a microscope, silk fibroin looks like spaghetti or a Jackson Pollock painting.

From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2024

In response, the researchers developed a bilayer adhesive hemostat utilizing mussel adhesive proteins that exhibit strong tissue adhesion underwater and silk fibroin extracted from silkworm cocoons.

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2024

Silk fibroin -- the structural protein of silk fibers -- can be precisely deposited onto surfaces and easily modified with other chemical and biological molecules to change its properties.

From Science Daily • Nov. 22, 2023

The matrix model posits that mineralization occurs in a mantle-secreted matrix of chitin, silk fibroin and acidic proteins.

From Nature • Oct. 3, 2012

Typical albuminoids are gelatin, keratin, elastin, fibroin, spongin and conchiolin.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

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