hirudin

American  

[hir-yuh-din, hir-uh-, hi-rood-n] / ˈhɪr yə dɪn, ˈhɪr ə-, hɪˈrud n /

noun

1. a gray or white, water-soluble acidic polypeptide obtained from the buccal gland of leeches, used in medicine chiefly as an anticoagulant.

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hirudin British  

/ hɪˈruːdɪn /

noun

1. med an anticoagulant extracted from the mouth glands of leeches

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Etymology

Origin of hirudin

First recorded in 1900–05; formerly trademark

Example Sentences

Hirudin, an anticoagulant derived from leeches, was essential in early human dialysis, he pointed out.

From New York Times

The team also found that sulfated anophelins are more effective than hirudin, a blood-thinning molecule derived from the salivary juices of leeches, which is occasionally used in clinical settings.

From Science Magazine

The thesis dealt, moreover, according to M. Pierre Quillard, who has had the courage to unearth and to analyse it, with "les organismes rudimentaires des n�ph�l�s, des hirudin�es et glossiphonies," subjects the very names of which are horrifying to the indolent lay reader.

From Project Gutenberg

Clotting is prevented by the injection of a harmless substance derived from leeches, known as hirudin.

From Project Gutenberg