heat shock protein

noun

variants or heat-shock protein

ˈhēt-ˌshäk- 

plural heat shock proteins or heat-shock proteins

: any of a group of molecular chaperones (see chaperone entry 1 sense 3) that are produced especially in cells subjected to stressful conditions (such as high temperature) and that serve to stabilize proteins and ensure proper assembly and folding of proteins

Examples of heat shock protein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The role of heat shock proteins is of particular interest. —Will Stone, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heat shock protein

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Medical Definition

heat shock protein

noun

variants or heat-shock protein

: any of a group of molecular chaperones that are produced especially in cells subjected to stressful conditions (such as high temperature or changes in pH) and that serve to stabilize proteins and ensure proper assembly and folding of proteins

Normally, heat-shock proteins protect other proteins inside a cell from being damaged by extreme heat or other stress.

—Nathan Seppa, Science News