Main Entry:

ze·in

Pronunciation:

\ˈzē-ən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

New Latin Zea, genus of grasses including Indian corn, from Greek zeai, plural, wheat; akin to Sanskrit yava barley

Date:

1822

: a protein from Indian corn that lacks lysine and tryptophan and is used especially in making textile fibers, plastics, printing inks, coatings, and adhesives and sizes