hemocyanin

noun

he·​mo·​cy·​a·​nin ˌhē-mō-ˈsī-ə-nən How to pronounce hemocyanin (audio)
: 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
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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 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 Crabs with more hemocyanin have better aerobic endurance, which might help them when fighting a rival. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2015

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary hem- + cyan- + -in entry 1

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hemocyanin was in 1885

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Cite this Entry

“Hemocyanin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hemocyanin. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Medical 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

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