lysis

1 of 2

noun

ly·​sis ˈlī-səs How to pronounce lysis (audio)
plural lyses ˈlī-ˌsēz How to pronounce lysis (audio)
1
: the gradual decline of a disease process (such as fever)
2
: a process of disintegration or dissolution (as of cells)

-lysis

2 of 2

noun combining form

plural -lyses
1
: decomposition
electrolysis
2
: disintegration : breaking down
autolysis

Examples of lysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Nearly all of the 110 groups were present throughout the study, a surprising result given the boom-and-bust dynamics frequently dictated by viral lysis events. Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 11 Dec. 2015 Those four qualities are high temperature tolerance, the ability to invade a human host, lysis and absorption of human tissue and resistance to the human immune system. Mac Stone, Discover Magazine, 19 Jan. 2023 In this variant, high densities of ahl generated haemolysin E – an anti-tumor toxin – and also stimluated a suicidal gene E that caused cell lysis. Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 26 Apr. 2017 Biodegradable nanostructures with selective lysis of microbial membranes. Patrick Morgan, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2011 The resulting phages eventually burst out of the cell, destroying it, in an action called lysis. WIRED, 27 Sep. 2022 Tumor lysis syndrome can cause electrolyte abnormalities and damage to the kidneys. Jacqueline Howard and Carma Hassan, CNN, 2 Feb. 2022 There is no shortage of Roche’s lysis buffer solution as of today. Ed Silverman, STAT, 27 Mar. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lysis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin, from Greek, act of loosening, dissolution, remission of fever, from lyein to loosen — more at lose

Noun combining form

New Latin, from Latin & Greek; Latin, loosening, from Greek, from lysis

First Known Use

Noun

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lysis was in 1543

Dictionary Entries Near lysis

Cite this Entry

“Lysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lysis. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lysis

noun
ly·​sis ˈlī-səs How to pronounce lysis (audio)
plural lyses ˈlī-ˌsēz How to pronounce lysis (audio)
: a process of breaking up especially of cells

Medical Definition

lysis

noun
ly·​sis ˈlī-səs How to pronounce lysis (audio)
plural lyses -ˌsēz How to pronounce lysis (audio)
1
: the gradual decline of a disease process (as fever) compare crisis sense 1
2
: a process of disintegration or dissolution (as of cells)

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