: any of a group of proteins especially of plants that are not antibodies and do not originate in an immune system but bind specifically to carbohydrate-containing receptors on cell surfaces (as of red blood cells)
Examples of lectin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cooking beans, Crumble Smith says, helps remove naturally occurring lectins and phytic acid, which can decrease the absorption of minerals like iron and calcium.
—
USA TODAY, 30 July 2023
Be forewarned: The berries can’t be eaten raw, as the plant has lectin and cyanide in it, which can cause intense stomach and lower intestine issues.
—Deanna Kizis, Sunset Magazine, 5 Apr. 2023
Red kidney beans have a high lectin content, and eating a raw handful can lead to a painful reaction.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022
In the long term, continuous lectin ingestion can cause serious issues.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022
The side of the story that doesn’t always get told is that lectins are rendered harmless during cooking.
—Abby Langer, SELF, 5 Jan. 2019
Most of us, however, don’t have a problem with the lectins in legumes, the gluten in grains, and the sugar in a reasonable amount of fruit.
—Abby Langer, SELF, 6 Sep. 2018
On Goop, Gundry promotes the idea that lectins, a type of protein found in certain plants, such as kidney beans, cause diseases like asthma, multiple sclerosis, or irritable bowel syndrome.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2017
But when the lectin binds, the bacteria that attaches changes the balance of the droplets, causing them to tip on their side.
—Nathan Hurst, Smithsonian, 18 Apr. 2017
USA TODAY, 30 July 2023
Be forewarned: The berries can’t be eaten raw, as the plant has lectin and cyanide in it, which can cause intense stomach and lower intestine issues.
—Deanna Kizis, Sunset Magazine, 5 Apr. 2023
Red kidney beans have a high lectin content, and eating a raw handful can lead to a painful reaction.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022
In the long term, continuous lectin ingestion can cause serious issues.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022
The side of the story that doesn’t always get told is that lectins are rendered harmless during cooking.
—Abby Langer, SELF, 5 Jan. 2019
Most of us, however, don’t have a problem with the lectins in legumes, the gluten in grains, and the sugar in a reasonable amount of fruit.
—Abby Langer, SELF, 6 Sep. 2018
On Goop, Gundry promotes the idea that lectins, a type of protein found in certain plants, such as kidney beans, cause diseases like asthma, multiple sclerosis, or irritable bowel syndrome.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2017
But when the lectin binds, the bacteria that attaches changes the balance of the droplets, causing them to tip on their side.
—Nathan Hurst, Smithsonian, 18 Apr. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lectin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lectin
Cite this Entry
“Lectin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lectin. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
lectin
noun
lec·tin
ˈlek-tən 
: any of a group of proteins especially of plants that are not antibodies and do not originate in an immune system but bind specifically to carbohydrate-containing receptors on cell surfaces (as of red blood cells)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share