Definition of lectin
: any of a group of proteins especially of plants that are not antibodies and do not originate in an immune system but bind specifically to carbohydrate-containing receptors on cell surfaces (as of red blood cells)
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Origin and Etymology of lectin
Latin lectus (past participle of legere to pick, select) + 1-in — more at legend
First Known Use: 1954
Medical Dictionary
lectin
playMedical Definition of lectin
: any of a group of proteins especially of plants that are not antibodies and do not originate in an immune system but bind specifically to carbohydrate-containing receptors on cell surfaces (as of red blood cells)
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See words that rhyme with lectin Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lectin
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