lysozyme

[ lahy-suh-zahym ]

/ ˈlaɪ səˌzaɪm /

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noun Biochemistry.

an enzyme that is destructive of bacteria and functions as an antiseptic, found in tears, leukocytes, mucus, egg albumin, and certain plants.

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Origin of lysozyme

First recorded in 1920–25; lyso- + (en)zyme

Words nearby lysozyme

lysogenic, lysogenize, lysogeny, Lysol, lysosome, lysozyme, lyssa, lyssophobia, Lysychansk, -lyte, Lytham Saint Anne's

British Dictionary definitions for lysozyme

lysozyme

/ (ˈlaɪsəˌzaɪm) /

noun

an enzyme occurring in tears, certain body tissues, and egg white: destroys bacteria by hydrolysing polysaccharides in their cell walls

Word Origin for lysozyme

C20: from lyso- + (en) zyme

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