peptide
n. countablen. a small molecule made of amino acids that helps your body perform different tasks. They are like shorter versions of proteins.
n. a short chain of amino acids linked by chemical bonds. Typically distinguished from proteins by having fewer than fifty amino acid residues.
The scientist studied how the peptide affects skin cells.
Many modern skincare products include synthetic peptides to help the skin produce more collagen naturally.
Research into antimicrobial peptides suggests they may provide a new way to fight bacteria that have become resistant to traditional antibiotics.
From peptone, partially hydrolyzed protein, or German Peptid, from German Pepton, from Ancient Greek πεπτόν (peptón, “cooked, digested”) derived from πέπτω (péptō, “soften, ripen, boil, cook, bake, digest”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used in biological and chemical contexts; often modified by 'signal' or 'synthetic'.
Last updated May 6, 2026