oxidase

[ ok-si-deys, -deyz ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of oxidoreductases that catalyze the oxidation of a substrate by molecular oxygen with the formation, in most cases, of hydrogen peroxide.

oxidase

/ -ˌdeɪz; ˈɒksɪˌdeɪs /

noun

1. any of a group of enzymes that bring about biological oxidation

Other Words From

• ox·i·da·sic [ok-si-, dey, -sik, -zik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of oxidase¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; oxide + -ase

Example Sentences

The answer lies in polyphenol oxidase, an enzyme that combines with oxygen to speed up cellular decomposition.

From The Daily Beast

If tricyclics do not help, MAO inhibitors (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) are usually tried.

From Project Gutenberg