collagen
n. uncountablen. a strong protein in your body that helps keep your skin, hair, and bones healthy. It acts like a glue that holds everything together and makes your skin look firm.
n. a fibrous structural protein found in the connective tissue, skin, and bones of mammals. It provides tensile strength and elasticity to various biological structures.
Your body produces less collagen as you get older.
Many skincare products claim to boost collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The structural integrity of the extracellular matrix depends heavily on the density and arrangement of collagen fibers, which provide the necessary scaffolding for cellular growth.
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.
Usually uncountable when referring to the protein in general; countable when referring to specific biochemical types.