hydrolysis

noun

hy·​dro·​ly·​sis hī-ˈdrä-lə-səs How to pronounce hydrolysis (audio)
: a chemical process of decomposition involving the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion of water
hydrolytic adjective
hydrolytically adverb

Examples of hydrolysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Through a process known as hydrolysis, starches are broken down into a powder. Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 1 July 2024 But microwaving wet foods in plastic delivers an even bigger one-two punch: Heat speeds up hydrolysis, the process by which water molecules can essentially break chemical bonds apart. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 15 Sep. 2023 These proteins undergo a process called hydrolysis, which breaks them down into smaller components. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 11 Aug. 2023 One week's more work would have allowed the authors to determine the degree of As replacement of P, by, say hydrolysis to nucleotides followed by mass spec. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 9 Dec. 2010 See all Example Sentences for hydrolysis 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hydrolysis.' 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

New Latin

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hydrolysis was in 1880

Dictionary Entries Near hydrolysis

Cite this Entry

“Hydrolysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrolysis. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

hydrolysis

noun
hy·​drol·​y·​sis
hī-ˈdräl-ə-səs
: a process of breaking down a chemical compound that involves splitting a bond and adding the elements of water to the resulting molecular fragments

Medical Definition

hydrolysis

noun
hy·​dro·​ly·​sis hī-ˈdräl-ə-səs, ˌhī-drə-ˈlī- How to pronounce hydrolysis (audio)
: a chemical process of decomposition involving the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion of water
hydrolytic adjective
hydrolytically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on hydrolysis

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