Meanings
nounkallikrein (countable and uncountable, plural kallikreins)
plural kallikreins
- countableuncountablebiochemistryA hypotensive protease that liberates kinins from blood plasma proteins and is used therapeutically for vasodilation.
Synonyms: kallidinogenase, kininogenin
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA hypotensive protease that liberates kinins from blood plasma proteins and is used therapeutically for vasodilation.
Similar
Origin
From Ancient Greek κᾰλλίκρεᾰς (kăllíkreăs, “sweetbread, pancreas”) + -in, from κᾰλλι- (kălli-, “beautiful”) + κρέᾰς (kréăs, “flesh, meat”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Italian callicreina
- callicreinaa protease
Spanish calicreína
- calicreínaa protease
Cite this entry
APA
kallikrein. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kallikrein
MLA
“kallikrein.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kallikrein. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kallikrein,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kallikrein.
Source: kallikrein on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.