enzyme
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a natural substance in living things that helps chemical changes happen faster.
a macromolecular biological catalyst, usually a protein, that increases the rate of chemical reactions without being consumed in the process.
Simple“The enzymes in your stomach help you digest the food you eat for lunch.”
In context“Specific enzymes are required to break down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars that the body can readily absorb.”
UsageOften used with verbs like 'break down', 'catalyse', or 'produce'.
Teacher's tipWhile technically a scientific term, it is common in everyday discussions about health, digestion, and laundry detergents.
Synonyms
“The particular enzyme Alexander has studied for several years is methionyl-tRNA synthetase, or MetRS.”
“Honeybees do not have this enzyme, which is why glyphosate was long considered unlikely to harm them.”
From German Enzym, coined 1878 by the German physiologist Wilhelm Kühne from Ancient Greek ἐν (en, “in”) + ζύμη (zúmē, “leaven”). By surface analysis, en- + zyme.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.