: a horny polysaccharide (C8H13NO5)n that forms part of the hard outer integument especially of insects, arachnids, and crustaceans
Examples of chitin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The reason behind this practice is that worm castings contain an enzyme known as chitinase that breaks down chitin, the major constituent in the exoskeleton of many insects, including whiteflies, aphids, and leaf miners, as well as spider mites.
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Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 10 Aug. 2024
Chitons–the hard spines and bristles in some modern mollusks–are made of the mineral calcium carbonate instead of the organic chitin that is in Shishania.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 Aug. 2024
The insects' exoskeletons are made from a substance called chitin, which is fiber-like and has some prebiotic properties; this can improve animals' digestive health, Liesch explained.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 22 May 2024
Chitin-eating microbes were predictably clinging to the chitin — but there were also bacteria that didn’t eat chitin.
—Dan Samorodnitsky, Quanta Magazine, 17 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chitin 
Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 10 Aug. 2024
Chitons–the hard spines and bristles in some modern mollusks–are made of the mineral calcium carbonate instead of the organic chitin that is in Shishania.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 Aug. 2024
The insects' exoskeletons are made from a substance called chitin, which is fiber-like and has some prebiotic properties; this can improve animals' digestive health, Liesch explained.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 22 May 2024
Chitin-eating microbes were predictably clinging to the chitin — but there were also bacteria that didn’t eat chitin.
—Dan Samorodnitsky, Quanta Magazine, 17 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chitin
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“Chitin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chitin. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chitin
noun
chi·tin
ˈkīt-ᵊn 
: a horny substance that forms part of the hard outer body covering especially of insects and crustaceans
Medical Definition
chitin
noun
chi·tin
ˈkīt-ᵊn
: a horny polysaccharide that forms part of the hard outer integument especially of insects, arachnids, and crustaceans
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