WordValeenzyme
a protein that speeds up biochemical reactions
In more detail
1. (noun) a protein in living cells that speeds up chemical reactions without being changed itself
2. (noun) any substance that causes or speeds up a chemical change
Examples
- 1. Digestive enzymes in your stomach help break down food.
- 2. The enzyme in the cleaning product removes tough stains.
How to use enzyme
Enzyme is a technical term used in biochemistry, medicine, and molecular biology to refer to proteins that facilitate metabolic and chemical processes. It can refer specifically to biological proteins or more broadly to any substance that catalyzes reactions. The term is precise and common in scientific, medical, and educational contexts.
Common phrases
- enzyme activity
- enzyme inhibitor
- digestive enzyme
- enzyme deficiency
- enzyme reaction
Synonyms
catalyst · biocatalyst · protein catalyst · accelerator
Word family
enzymatic · enzymology · enzymatically
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse enzyme with the more general term catalyst; while all enzymes are biological catalysts, not all catalysts are enzymes, and the distinction matters in scientific writing.
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