noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A biomolecule that catalyses a biological chemical reaction: either a globular protein with this function or an RNA molecule with this function. countable, uncountable
2. 2
   any of several complex proteins that are produced by cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions wordnet
3. 3
   A biomolecule that catalyses a biological chemical reaction: either a globular protein with this function or an RNA molecule with this function.; The protein type specifically. countable, uncountable
4. 4
   Leavened bread, as opposed to azyme. countable, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms

apoproteinbeta-amylasecarbohydrasecoenzymedeoxyribonucleasedigestant

Example

More examples

"Pineapples contain an enzyme denominated bromelain that decomposes some proteins."

Etymology

From German Enzym, coined 1878 by the German physiologist Wilhelm Kühne from Ancient Greek ἐν (en, “in”) + ζύμη (zúmē, “leaven”).

Related phrases

adaptive enzymeangiotensin converting enzymeangiotensin converting enzyme 1angiotensin converting enzyme 2angiotensin-converting enzymeenzyme inhibitorenzyme-inducing medicationenzyme-inhibiting medicationinvert enzymemodification enzymeprecursor enzymerestriction enzyme

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.