Lysis

noun

noun ·2 syllables ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A plinth or step above the cornice of the podium in an ancient temple.
  2. 2
    (biochemistry) dissolution or destruction of cells such as blood cells or bacteria wordnet
  3. 3
    The breakdown of molecules into constituent molecules.
  4. 4
    recuperation in which the symptoms of an acute disease gradually subside wordnet
  5. 5
    The disintegration or destruction of cells.
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  1. 6
    A gradual recovery from disease.

    "The older medicine used to speak of two ways, lysis and crisis, one gradual, the other abrupt, in which one might recover from a bodily disease."

Example

More examples

"The older medicine used to speak of two ways, lysis and crisis, one gradual, the other abrupt, in which one might recover from a bodily disease."

Etymology

From Latin lysis, from Ancient Greek λύσις (lúsis, “a loosening”). Compare -lysis.

Related phrases

euglobulin clot lysis timeeuglobulin lysis time

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