noun
hydrolysis
hy-DRAHL-uh-sis
Hydrolysis (noun) means a chemical reaction in which water breaks a bond in a compound, splitting it into smaller parts. Example: “The hydrolysis of starch produces simpler sugars.”
noun
1
technical A chemical reaction in which water breaks a bond in a compound, splitting it into smaller parts.
"The hydrolysis of starch produces simpler sugars."
"Enzymes in the gut speed up the hydrolysis of proteins."
"Students measured the rate of hydrolysis in the lab experiment."
Examples of hydrolysis in a sentence →
How to use hydrolysis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA reaction where water splits a compound apart.
When to use it
It is a scientific term used mainly in chemistry and biology.
Memory tip
The ending -lysis means breaking apart, so hydrolysis is breaking apart with water.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
acid hydrolysis
enzymatic hydrolysis
hydrolysis reaction
undergo hydrolysis
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of starch produces simpler sugars.
Etymology
The word was formed in English from the prefix hydro- and the ending -lysis.
Rhymes for hydrolysis
See all rhymes for hydrolysis →Frequently asked questions
What is hydrolysis?
Hydrolysis is a chemical process in which a bond is split with the help of water. The hydrogen and hydroxide parts of water are added to the pieces.
What is the plural of hydrolysis?
The plural is hydrolyzes.
What is the verb form of hydrolysis?
The related verb is hydrolyze, as in 'The enzyme hydrolyzes the protein.'
What is the meaning of hydrolysis?
"hydrolysis" (noun) means a chemical reaction in which water breaks a bond in a compound, splitting it into smaller parts.
