biocatalysis

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noun

Catalysis using biological catalysts (especially enzymes, whether protein enzymes or RNA ones (ribozymes).

OriginEnglish catalysis ← Ancient Greek βῐο- (bĭo-) ← Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- →
UncommonScrabble 19
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Meanings

nounbiocatalysis (usually uncountable, plural biocatalyses)

plural biocatalyses

  1. uncountableusuallybiochemistryCatalysis using biological catalysts (especially enzymes, whether protein enzymes or RNA ones (ribozymes).

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*gʷeyh₃-
  2. Ancient Greekβῐ́ος (bĭ́os)
  3. Ancient Greekβῐο- (bĭo-)
  4. Englishbio-
  5. Englishcatalysis
  6. Englishbiocatalysis

From bio- + catalysis.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French biocatalyse
  • biocatalysecatalysis using biological catalysts
Polish biokataliza
  • biokatalizacatalysis using biological catalysts
Cite this entry
APA

biocatalysis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/biocatalysis

MLA

“biocatalysis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/biocatalysis. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “biocatalysis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/biocatalysis.

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