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Enzyme Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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enzyme

en-zyme

🇺🇸 /ˈɛnˌzaɪm/ · 🇬🇧 /ˈɛnzaɪm/

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

catalytic protein

An enzyme is a substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction. Enzymes are crucial for various biological processes in the body, such as digestion, metabolism, and cell repair.

Synonyms

biocatalyst, catalyst, protein.

Examples of usage

  • Enzymes help break down food in the digestive system.
  • Metabolic enzymes facilitate chemical reactions in the body.
  • Enzymes play a vital role in repairing damaged cells.

Translations

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Quick facts about “enzyme”

Enzyme is a 2-syllable noun (en-zyme). It is pronounced /ˈɛnˌzaɪm/ in American English and /ˈɛnzaɪm/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 1 meaning, 3 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #4,258 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'enzyme'

The term 'enzyme' was coined by the German physiologist Wilhelm Kühne in 1878, derived from the Greek words 'en' (in) and 'zyme' (leaven). The discovery and understanding of enzymes have revolutionized the field of biochemistry and have significant implications for various scientific disciplines.


Rhymes

Enzyme rhymes with coenzyme and genzyme.

See all rhymes →

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,258, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.