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Enzyme Very Common

Enzyme has 2 different meanings across 1 category:

Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

any of several complex proteins that are produced by cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions

"The enzyme catalyzes the breakdown of starch into sugar within the digestive system."

2

A globular protein that catalyses a biological chemical reaction.

"The enzyme acts as a catalyst to speed up the breakdown of food molecules in the stomach."

In plain English: An enzyme is a special protein that speeds up chemical reactions inside your body without getting used up itself.

"Enzymes help break down food in your stomach so you can digest it properly."

Usage: Enzymes are proteins found in living organisms that speed up specific chemical reactions without being consumed themselves. They function as biological catalysts, meaning they lower the energy required for processes like digestion or cellular respiration to occur efficiently.

Example Sentences
"Enzymes help break down food in your stomach so you can digest it properly." noun
"The enzyme helps break down food during digestion." noun
"Adding this specific enzyme made the dough rise much faster." noun
"Scientists discovered that the missing enzyme was causing his rare disease." noun
Related Terms
rhomboid protease replicase saruplase alliinase ada nickase chymotrypsin anaplerosis lactamase immunoneutralization ficain phenylketonuria nucleotidyltransferase resolvase perhydrolase metacaspase hunter syndrome histoenzymatic laminarinase hexosaminidase
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
protein catalyst
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
adenosine deaminase amylase cholinesterase coagulase collagenase complement catalase cyclooxygenase decarboxylase de-iodinase disaccharidase elastase enterokinase histaminase hyaluronidase isomerase kinase lipase lysozyme monoamine oxidase nitrogenase nuclease oxidase oxidoreductase papain penicillinase pepsin pepsinogen phosphatase plasmin polymerase protease reductase rennin secretase streptodornase streptokinase superoxide dismutase telomerase transferase trypsin urease zymase

Origin

The word "enzyme" comes from the German Enzym, which was coined in 1878 by physiologist Wilhelm Kühne based on Ancient Greek roots meaning "in leaven." It entered English to describe substances found within living cells that speed up chemical reactions, much like yeast acts as a catalyst for fermentation.

Rhyming Words
ayme cyme zyme tyme syme lyme chyme azyme rhyme gryme glyme thyme bleyme abzyme exozyme isozyme synzyme diglyme unrhyme berhyme
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