mucin

American

[myoo-sin] / ˈmju sɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

any of a class of glycoproteins found in saliva, gastric juice, etc., that form viscous solutions and act as lubricants or protectants on external and internal surfaces of the body.

mucin British

/ ˈmjuːsɪn /

noun

biochem any of a group of nitrogenous mucoproteins occurring in saliva, skin, tendon, etc, that produce a very viscous solution in water

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of mucin

First recorded in 1825–35; muc- + -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.

See Examples For:

mucin

Once those protective groups are removed, A. muciniphila can digest the exposed mucin.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 19, 2026

K-beauty products are often more attractively priced than their Western counterparts - but also feature ingredients that are not as commonly found in the West - from heartleaf to snail mucin.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2025

After a snail mucus skin care boom in South Korea, the product—also referred to as snail mucin or secretion—was widely shared on social media.

From National Geographic ● Jan. 8, 2024

One particular item took off — a snail mucin essence from popular Korean brand COSRX.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2023

From what is stated in chemical works, it appears extremely doubtful whether mucin can be prepared as a pure principle.

From Insectivorous Plants by Charles Darwin

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