amylase

A1M3Y4L1A1S1E1
/ˈæmɪleɪs/

noun

Any of a class of digestive enzymes, present in saliva and also contributed to the gut by the exocrine pancreas, that break down complex carbohydrates such as starch into simpler sugars such as glucose.

“egg yolk amylase”

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Meanings

nounamylase (countable and uncountable, plural amylases)

plural amylases

  1. countableuncountablebiochemistryAny of a class of digestive enzymes, present in saliva and also contributed to the gut by the exocrine pancreas, that break down complex carbohydrates such as starch into simpler sugars such as glucose.

    egg yolk amylase

    1 more example

    Egg yolks contain a starch-digesting enzyme, amylase, that is remarkably resistant to heat. Unless a starch-egg mix is brought to a full boil, the yolk amylase will survive, digest the starch, and turn the stiff cream into a pourable one.

    2004, Harold McGee, chapter 2, in On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen, Scribner, →ISBN

Origin

From amyl- + -ase.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan amilasa
  • amilasaenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Chinese Mandarin 澱粉酶 /淀粉酶
  • 澱粉酶 /淀粉酶 (diànfěnméi)enzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Czech amyláza
  • amylázaenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Danish amylase
  • amylaseenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Dutch amylase
  • amylaseenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Esperanto amelazo
  • amelazoenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Estonian amülaas
  • amülaasenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Finnish amylaasi
  • amylaasienzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
French amylase
  • amylaseenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
German Amylase
  • Amylaseenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Greek αμυλάση
  • αμυλάση (amylási)enzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Hebrew עמילאז
  • עמילאזenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Hungarian amiláz
  • amilázenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Indonesian amilase
  • amilaseenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Irish amaláis
  • amaláisenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Italian amilasi
  • amilasienzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Japanese アミラーゼ
  • アミラーゼ (amirāze)enzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Korean 아밀레이스, 아밀라아제
  • 아밀레이스 (amilleiseu)enzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
  • 아밀라아제 (amillaaje)enzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Māori whākōkī hūware
  • whākōkī hūwareenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Norwegian amylase
  • amylaseenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Polish amylaza, diastaza
  • amylazaenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
  • diastazaenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Portuguese amilase, amílase
  • amilaseenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
  • amílaseenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Russian амила́за
  • амила́за (amiláza)enzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Spanish amilasa
  • amilasaenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Swedish amylas
  • amylasenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Ukrainian амілаза
  • амілаза (amilaza)enzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Vietnamese amilaza
  • amilazaenzyme, present in saliva, that breaks down carbohydrates such as starch
Cite this entry
APA

amylase. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amylase

MLA

“amylase.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amylase. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “amylase,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amylase.

Source: amylase on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.