hyaline

1 of 2

adjective

hy·​a·​line ˈhī-ə-lən How to pronounce hyaline (audio)
-ˌlīn
: transparent or nearly so and usually homogeneous

hyaline

2 of 2

noun

hy·​a·​line ˈhī-ə-lən How to pronounce hyaline (audio)
-ˌlīn,
 in sense 2  -lən,
 or  -ˌlēn
1
: something (such as the clear atmosphere) that is transparent
2
or hyalin : any of several translucent nitrogenous substances related to chitin, found especially around cells, and readily stained by eosin

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin hyalinus, from Greek hyalinos, from hyalos

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1661, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hyaline was circa 1661

Dictionary Entries Near hyaline

Cite this Entry

“Hyaline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyaline. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

hyaline

1 of 2 adjective
hy·​a·​line ˈhī-ə-lən How to pronounce hyaline (audio) -ˌlīn How to pronounce hyaline (audio)
: transparent or nearly transparent and usually homogeneous

hyaline

2 of 2 noun
1
or hyalin : a nitrogenous substance closely related to chitin that forms the main constituent of the walls of hydatid cysts and yields a sugar on decomposition
2
: any of several translucent substances similar to hyaline that collect around cells, are capable of being stained by eosin, and yield a carbohydrate as a cleavage product
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