autolysis

au·tol·y·sis

noun \-ə-səs\

plural au·tol·y·ses \-ə-ˌsēz\

Definition of AUTOLYSIS

: breakdown of all or part of a cell or tissue by self-produced enzymes—called also self-digestion

—au·to·lyt·ic \ˌȯt-^əl-ˈit-ik\ adjective