Collagen
/ˈkɒləd͡ʒən/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The main structural protein in the extracellular matrix of the connective tissues of many animals. countable, uncountable
"Science cannot yet account for the conversion of collagen into gelatin."
- 2 a fibrous scleroprotein in bone and cartilage and tendon and other connective tissue; yields gelatin on boiling wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"Collagen is a protein that aids the joining of tissues."
Etymology
From French collagène, coined from Ancient Greek κόλλα (kólla, “glue”) and -γενής (-genḗs, “-forming”) (see -gen); it is the main substance that animal glues are derived from. Doublet of collage, colloid, and protocol.