zein
[ zee-in ]
/ ˈzi ɪn /
noun
Biochemistry. a soft, yellow powder of simple proteins obtained from corn, used chiefly in the manufacture of textile fibers, plastics, and paper coatings.
a synthetic fiber produced from this protein.
QUIZZES
IT’S A WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ BONANZA!
This windfall of words will make you rich with knowledge. Mine your memory on the words from July 27 to August 2!
Question 1 of 7
What does "scattergood" mean?
a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.
a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.
a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUTOrigin of zein
1815–25; <New Latin Ze(a) the maize genus (Latin: emmer <Greek zeiá barley, wheat; cognate with Sanskrit yáva grain) + -in2
Words nearby zein
Zeelander, Zeeman, Zeeman effect, Zeffirelli, ZEG, zein, Zeis gland, Zeist, zeitgeber, Zeitgeist, zeitgeisty
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for zein
British Dictionary definitions for zein
zein
/ (ˈziːɪn) /
noun
a protein of the prolamine group occurring in maize and used in the manufacture of plastics, paper coatings, adhesives, etc
Word Origin for zein
C19: from New Latin zēa maize, from Latin: a kind of grain, from Greek zeia barley
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