hydrolysis

American  

[hahy-drol-uh-sis] / haɪˈdrɒl ə sɪs /

noun

hydrolyses plural

1. chemical decomposition in which a compound is split into other compounds by reacting with water.

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hydrolysis British  

/ haɪˈdrɒlɪsɪs /

noun

1. a chemical reaction in which a compound reacts with water to produce other compounds

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hydrolysis Scientific  

/ hī-drŏl′ĭ-sĭs /

1. The reaction of water with another chemical compound to form two or more products, involving the ionization of the water molecule and usually splitting the other compound. The proteins, fats, and complex carbohydrates in food are broken down in the body by hydrolysis that is catalyzed by enzymes in the digestive tract.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• hydrolyses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hydrolysis

First recorded in 1875–80; hydro- ¹ + -lysis