transmembrane

adjective

trans·​mem·​brane (ˌ)tran(t)s-ˈmem-ˌbrān How to pronounce transmembrane (audio)
(ˌ)tranz-
: taking place or existing across a membrane
a transmembrane protein

Examples of transmembrane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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That certainly is the case with channels found in transmembrane proteins, which manage to allow the passage of ions or molecules but block larger objects. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Dec. 2010 In the late 1990s, some scientists hypothesized that the former food vacuole was still likely to carry a transmembrane channel protein called a proton pump. Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 6 July 2023 The soluble form is produced when the gene is spliced to remove the transmembrane portion (Figure 2). William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of transmembrane was in 1944

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Cite this Entry

“Transmembrane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transmembrane. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

transmembrane

adjective
: taking place, existing, or arranged from one side to the other of a membrane
a transmembrane potential
transmembrane proteins
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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