hydrolase

noun

hy·​dro·​lase ˈhī-drə-ˌlās How to pronounce hydrolase (audio)
-ˌlāz
: a hydrolytic enzyme

Examples of hydrolase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The researchers found that an enzyme called soluble epoxide hydrolase, or sEH, which is more abundant in the colons of obese people, is responsible for colin inflammation, which can be an early signal of colon cancer. — Elise Takahama, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Apr. 2018 Senior author Benoît Boachon, a plant biochemist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, says most plants keep GGP and NUDX1 hydrolase in another area called the plastids. — Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Popular Science, 3 May 2023 Upon impact, according to McQuiston, the brain releases ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) into the bloodstream. — Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin hydrolysis + International Scientific Vocabulary -ase

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hydrolase was in 1910

Rhymes for hydrolase

See All Rhymes for hydrolase

Browse Nearby Words

hydrol
hydrolase
hydrolatry
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hydrolase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrolase. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

hydrolase

noun
hy·​dro·​lase ˈhī-drə-ˌlās, -ˌlāz How to pronounce hydrolase (audio)
: a hydrolytic enzyme (as an esterase)

More from Merriam-Webster on hydrolase

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hydrolase

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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