hemolysin

H4E1M3O1L1Y4S1I1N1

noun

Any substance (often an exotoxin) that damages the membranes of red blood cells and thus releases hemoglobin.

Similar
haemolysinerythrolysinerythrocytolysin
OriginEnglish lysin ← Ancient Greek αἱμο- (haimo-) →
UncommonScrabble 17
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounhemolysin (plural hemolysins)

plural hemolysins

  1. medicineAny substance (often an exotoxin) that damages the membranes of red blood cells and thus releases hemoglobin.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounany substance that can cause lysis (destruction) of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and the release of their hemoglobin

Similar
haemolysinerythrolysinerythrocytolysin
Broader
organic compound
Also see
amboceptoramboreceptor

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekαἷμᾰ (haîmă)
  2. Ancient Greekαἱμο- (haimo-)
  3. Englishhaemo-
  4. Englishhemo-
  5. Englishlysin
  6. Englishhemolysin

From hemo- + lysin.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan hemolisina
  • hemolisinaany substance that damages the membranes of red blood cells
French hémolysine
  • hémolysineany substance that damages the membranes of red blood cells
Portuguese hemolisina, amboceptor
  • hemolisinaany substance that damages the membranes of red blood cells
  • amboceptorany substance that damages the membranes of red blood cells
Spanish hemolisina
  • hemolisinaany substance that damages the membranes of red blood cells
Cite this entry
APA

hemolysin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hemolysin

MLA

“hemolysin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hemolysin. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hemolysin,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hemolysin.

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