kinase

K5I1N1A1S1E1
/ˈkaɪneɪz//ˈkaɪneɪs//ˈkɪneɪz//ˈkɪneɪs/

noun

Any of a group of enzymes that transfer phosphate groups from high-energy donor molecules, such as ATP, to specific target molecules (substrates), in a process termed phosphorylation.

Similar
phosphokinase
OriginEnglish diastase ← Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) ← Proto-Hellenic *hístāmi →
CommonScrabble 10
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Meanings

nounkinase (plural kinases)

plural kinases

  1. biochemistryAny of a group of enzymes that transfer phosphate groups from high-energy donor molecules, such as ATP, to specific target molecules (substrates), in a process termed phosphorylation.

    Synonyms: phosphokinase

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny of a group of enzymes that transfer phosphate groups from high-energy donor molecules, such as ATP, to specific target molecules (substrates), in a process termed phosphorylation.

Similar
phosphokinase

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*keyh₂-
  2. Ancient Greekκινέω (kinéō)
  3. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  4. Proto-Indo-European*trísinflu.
  5. Proto-Indo-European*dwís
  6. Ancient Greekδιά (diá)
  7. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ- (dĭă-)
  8. Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*stísteh₂ti
  10. Proto-Hellenic*hístāmi
  11. Ancient Greekῐ̔́στημῐ (hĭ́stēmĭ)
  12. Ancient Greekδῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ)
  13. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs)
  14. Englishdiastase
  15. Englishkinase

From Ancient Greek κινέω (kinéō, “to move”) + -ase, a suffix forming enzyme names.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan cinasa, quinasa
  • cinasaenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
  • quinasaenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Chinese Mandarin 激酶
  • 激酶 (jīméi)enzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Czech kináza
  • kinázaenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Dutch kinase
  • kinaseenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Finnish kinaasi
  • kinaasienzyme that transfers phosphate groups
French kinase
  • kinaseenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
German Kinase
  • Kinaseenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Greek κινάση
  • κινάση (kinási)enzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Hungarian kináz
  • kinázenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Icelandic kínasi
  • kínasienzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Indonesian kinase
  • kinaseenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Italian chinasi, cinasi
  • chinasienzyme that transfers phosphate groups
  • cinasienzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Polish kinaza
  • kinazaenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Portuguese cinase, quinase
  • cinaseenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
  • quinaseenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Spanish cinasa, quinasa
  • cinasaenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
  • quinasaenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
  • kinasaenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Swedish kinas
  • kinasenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Turkish kinaz
  • kinazenzyme that transfers phosphate groups
Vietnamese kinaza
  • kinazaenzyme that transfers phosphate groups

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

AikensKseniaSekani
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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