hemocyanin
noun
he·mo·cy·a·nin
ˌhē-mō-ˈsī-ə-nən 
: a copper-containing respiratory pigment in the circulatory fluid of various arthropods and mollusks
Examples of hemocyanin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The researchers also weighed the crabs without their shells and measured their levels of hemocyanin, a molecule that carries oxygen in the blood.
—
Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2015
Zorrilla’s experimental antiobesity vaccine consists of ghrelin molecules chemically linked to hemocyanin, a protein extracted from the keyhole limpet marine snail.
—Jessica Snyder Sachs, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2012
Crabs with more hemocyanin have better aerobic endurance, which might help them when fighting a rival.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2015
The protein, hemocyanin, is a key ingredient in the skin cream that Patrick Breeding, 27, and Amber Boutiette, 29, distribute from a bare-bones, former steel factory on the outskirts of Portland.
—Brian MacQuarrie, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Sep. 2022
Their equivalent to blood is hemolymph, a mostly clear fluid that contains small amounts of hemocyanin.
—Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2019
Consider hemocyanin, which is so widely used among invertebrates.
—Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2019
The scientists discovered that gribbles use hemocyanins to attack the strong bonds of lignin.
—David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 5 Dec. 2018
Octopuses, lobsters and horseshoe crabs use hemocyanin, which means blue blood.
—Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, 20 May 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2015
Zorrilla’s experimental antiobesity vaccine consists of ghrelin molecules chemically linked to hemocyanin, a protein extracted from the keyhole limpet marine snail.
—Jessica Snyder Sachs, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2012
Crabs with more hemocyanin have better aerobic endurance, which might help them when fighting a rival.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2015
The protein, hemocyanin, is a key ingredient in the skin cream that Patrick Breeding, 27, and Amber Boutiette, 29, distribute from a bare-bones, former steel factory on the outskirts of Portland.
—Brian MacQuarrie, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Sep. 2022
Their equivalent to blood is hemolymph, a mostly clear fluid that contains small amounts of hemocyanin.
—Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2019
Consider hemocyanin, which is so widely used among invertebrates.
—Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2019
The scientists discovered that gribbles use hemocyanins to attack the strong bonds of lignin.
—David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 5 Dec. 2018
Octopuses, lobsters and horseshoe crabs use hemocyanin, which means blue blood.
—Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, 20 May 2018
Cite this Entry
“Hemocyanin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hemocyanin. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hemocyanin
noun
he·mo·cy·a·nin
variants
or chiefly British haemocyanin
: a colorless copper-containing respiratory pigment in solution in the blood plasma of various arthropods and mollusks
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share