Meanings
- uncountablebiologyThe destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes produced by the organism itself.
- uncountablemedicineThe autocytolysis of blood cells.
- uncountablebeveragesThe decomposition of dead yeast cells in wine after fermentation.
- uncountablebakingA two-stage mixing process where water and flour are combined first before adding leavening and salt.
1 more example
Autolysis involves combining only the flour and water and letting them sit for 15– 30 minutes before adding the leavening and salt. According to Calvel, this initial preparation gives the starch and the gluten proteins a chance to absorb as much water as possible without the interference of salt, and allows the gluten chains to shorten more […]
2004, Harold McGee, chapter 10, in On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen, Scribner, →ISBN
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe autodigestion of the tissues of an organism.
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Hellenic*autós
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
- Ancient Greekαὖ (aû)
- Ancient Greekτόν (tón)
- Ancient Greekαὐτός (autós)
- Ancient Greekαὐτο- (auto-)
- Englishauto-
- Ancient Greekλῠ́σῐς (lŭ́sĭs)
- Englishautolysis
From auto- (“self”) + -lysis (“breakdown”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian автолиза, автолиза
- автолиза (avtoliza)cytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
- автолиза (avtoliza)pathology: autodigestion
- автолиза (avtoliza)pathology: autocytolysis of blood cells
- автолиза (avtoliza)wine: decomposition of dead yeast cells
Catalan autòlisi
- autòlisicytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Chinese Mandarin 自溶
- 自溶 (zìróng)cytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Esperanto aŭtolizo
- aŭtolizocytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Finnish autolyysi
- autolyysicytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
French autolyse
- autolysecytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
German Autolyse
- Autolysecytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Italian autolisi
- autolisicytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Malay autolisis
- autolisiscytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Polish autoliza
- autolizacytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Portuguese autólise
- autólisecytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Spanish autolisis, autólisis
- autolisiscytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
- autólisiscytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Swedish autolys
- autolyscytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Tagalog saribilos
- saribiloscytology: the destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with autolysis
Cite this entry
autolysis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autolysis
“autolysis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autolysis. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “autolysis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autolysis.
Source: autolysis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.