WordGarden.iolyse
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /lˈaɪz/
US
Meanings
Verb
to cause a cell or similar biological material to break apart, or to break apart in that way
Beyond the definition
"Lyse" sounds a bit like "release," and that can help you remember its meaning. It describes breaking open a cell so that what is inside comes out. Think of it like popping a tiny water balloon. Scientists often lyse cells on purpose so they can study what is inside them. You would not use this word for everyday things like a broken chair; it belongs mostly to biology, medicine, and lab work. For example, a virus may lyse a host cell after making copies of itself, which releases new viral particles.
Imagine the tiny building blocks that make up every living organism: cells. Sometimes these cells are broken open in a lab, and sometimes they break open as part of a natural biological process. That is where "lyse" comes in. To lyse means to break open a cell, usually by damaging its membrane, so that its contents are released. It is not a general word for breaking anything at all; it refers to a specific kind of cellular breakdown.
The word comes from Greek lysis, meaning "loosening" or "breaking apart." You will almost always see "lyse" in scientific contexts, especially biology, medicine, and biochemistry. A scientist might use a special detergent to lyse red blood cells and study the hemoglobin inside them. In microbiology, a virus may lyse its host cell after replicating inside it, breaking the cell open and spreading new viral particles.
You will also see the related noun "lysis" in terms like "hemolysis" (the breaking open of red blood cells) or "autolysis" (cells breaking themselves down through their own enzymes). You would not casually say, "My weekend plans lysed!" because the word is tied closely to cells and lab science. So if you are reading about cells, infections, or experiments, remember that to lyse is to break a cell open and let what is inside come out.
Examples
- 1
DNA collection
The detergent helps lyse the cells so the DNA can be collected.
- 2
Blood sample
Red blood cells may lyse if the sample is mixed with pure water.
- 3
Bacteria research
The researchers used an enzyme to lyse the bacteria before measuring their proteins.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- lyse