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
DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!
We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Origin 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. 2021
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
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