lysozyme

lysozyme — noun

1. a natural antibacterial substance found in body fluids such as tears, saliva, sw

1.nounC1
Definition

a natural antibacterial substance found in body fluids such as tears, saliva, sweat, and egg white that kills bacteria by breaking down their outer walls

Example

Layla's biology teacher used fresh egg white to demonstrate how lysozyme attacks bacterial cell walls.

lysozyme + verb: attacks / breaks down / destroys bacterial cell walls

Yumi learned that lysozyme in her tears is a natural defence against common eye infections.

lysozyme + prepositional: in tears / saliva / egg white

Common collocations
  • lysozyme + attacks / kills / destroys / breaks down + bacterial cell walls
  • natural / human / recombinant + lysozyme
  • lysozyme + in tears / saliva / sweat / egg white / breast milk
  • produce / secrete / contain + lysozyme
Synonyms
  • muramidase

    the systematic biochemical name for the same enzyme, used mainly in specialist literature

Usage Note

Lysozyme is an uncountable noun in general scientific use. It is typically discussed in biology and medical contexts, especially in relation to the body's innate immune system.

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • break down cell walls
  • protect against infection
  • act as a natural defence

Prepositions

  • in tears
  • in saliva
  • in egg white
  • in breast milk

Etymology

First known use

1922

1922, in the meaning defined above