proteoglycan

noun

pro·​teo·​gly·​can ˌprō-tē-ə-ˈglī-ˌkan 

: any of a class of glycoproteins of high molecular weight that are found especially in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue

Word History

Etymology

proteo- + glycan

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

proteoglycan

noun

pro·​teo·​gly·​can ˌprōt-ē-ə-ˈglī-ˌkan 

: any of a class of glycoproteins of high molecular weight that are found in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue, are made up mostly of carbohydrate consisting of various polysaccharide side chains linked to a protein, and resemble polysaccharides rather than proteins in their properties