protein
/ˈprəʊtiːn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈprəʊtiːn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈprō-ˌtēn also ˈprō-tē-ən/ (ame, mw)
protein — noun
- proteinsingular
- proteinsplural
1. A natural substance found in foods such as meat, eggs, fish, cheese, and beans.
A natural substance found in foods such as meat, eggs, fish, cheese, and beans. Your body needs it to grow, repair damaged tissues, and stay healthy.
Bao eats eggs and beans every day to get enough protein for his training.
collocation: get enough protein
This brand of yoghurt has twice as much protein as the regular one.
comparative pattern: as much protein as
The doctor told Nikhil to add more protein to his breakfast.
Milk, fish, and tofu are all good sources of protein for growing children.
Many plant-based proteins such as lentils and chickpeas are cheap and easy to cook.
- nutrient
broader term — any substance that provides nourishment, not just protein
- amino acids
related but not synonymous — amino acids are the building blocks that make up protein
文法句型
protein + in + food type
source of + protein
high in + protein
用法筆記
In everyday use this sense is uncountable ('Protein is important for muscles'). When talking about different kinds of protein-rich foods, it can be countable ('legumes are a good plant protein').
常見錯誤
2. Any of many natural chemical compounds found in all living cells. Made from long
Any of many natural chemical compounds found in all living cells. Made from long chains of amino acids, each type of protein performs a specific job, such as speeding up chemical reactions, carrying signals, or protecting the body from disease.
Each protein in the human body has a specific shape that allows it to do a particular job.
relative clause describing protein function
Enzymes are a type of protein that speed up chemical reactions inside cells.
pattern: a type of protein that + action
The research team identified a new protein that helps plants survive in dry soil.
Valentina's lab studies how proteins fold into their three-dimensional shapes.
A virus uses proteins on the surface of a cell to enter it and cause disease.
- polypeptide
a more specific term — a chain of amino acids that may form part of or be a protein; used in technical contexts
- enzyme
a type of protein that speeds up chemical reactions — narrower than 'protein'
- macromolecule
broader category — includes proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates
文法句型
protein + that + verb/action
type of + protein
protein + in + cell/tissue
用法筆記
This sense is the technical, biological meaning. In academic or scientific writing, 'protein' is countable when referring to individual types ('receptor proteins', 'channel proteins') and uncountable when referring to the substance in general ('Protein makes up 20% of the body').