beta-lactamase

noun

An enzyme produced by certain bacteria, responsible for their resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin.

Similar
penicillinase
OriginEnglish diastase ← Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) ← Proto-Hellenic *hístāmi →
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Meanings

nounbeta-lactamase (plural beta-lactamases)

plural beta-lactamases · alternative β-lactamase · alternative betalactamase

  1. biochemistryAn enzyme produced by certain bacteria, responsible for their resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounenzyme produced by certain bacteria that inactivates penicillin and results in resistance to that antibiotic

Similar
penicillinase
Broader
enzyme
Also see
penicillinase

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Semitic*bayt-
  2. Phoenician𐤁𐤕 (bt)
  3. Ancient Greekβῆτᾰ (bêtă)
  4. Englishbeta
  5. Latinlac
  6. Englishlacto-
  7. GermanKeton
  8. Englishketone
  9. Englishlac(tone)
  10. Egyptianjmn
  11. Ancient GreekᾸ̓́μμων (Ắmmōn)
  12. LatinAmmōn
  13. Latinammoniacus
  14. Englishammonia
  15. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-
  16. Englisham(ide)
  17. Englishlactam
  18. Englishbeta-lactam
  19. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  20. Proto-Indo-European*trísinflu.
  21. Proto-Indo-European*dwís
  22. Ancient Greekδιά (diá)
  23. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ- (dĭă-)
  24. Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-
  25. Proto-Indo-European*stísteh₂ti
  26. Proto-Hellenic*hístāmi
  27. Ancient Greekῐ̔́στημῐ (hĭ́stēmĭ)
  28. Ancient Greekδῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ)
  29. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs)
  30. Englishdiastase
  31. Englishbeta-lactamase

From beta-lactam + -ase.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish beetalaktamaasi
  • beetalaktamaasienzyme produced by certain bacteria, responsible for their resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics
Hungarian béta-laktamáz
  • béta-laktamázenzyme produced by certain bacteria, responsible for their resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics
Italian betalattamasi
  • betalattamasienzyme produced by certain bacteria, responsible for their resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: beta-lactamase on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.