lysine

L1Y4S1I1N1E1
/ˈlaɪsiːn/

noun

An amino acid, C₆H₁₄N₂O₂, in L- or D-forms.

Similar
mul:Lysmul:K
OriginEnglish lysis ← Latin lysis ← Ancient Greek λῠ́σῐς (lŭ́sĭs) →
Less commonScrabble 9
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Meanings

nounlysine (countable and uncountable, plural lysines)

plural lysines

  1. countableuncountablebiochemistryAn amino acid, C₆H₁₄N₂O₂, in L- or D-forms.
    1. countableuncountablebiochemistryThe L-form of such a molecule, as it occurs in living organisms; in humans it is an essential amino acid.
      1 more example

      Lysine is an essential amino acid required for many body functions, including growth and bone development in children; calcium absorption and maintenance of the correct nitrogen balance in the body; maintenance of lean body mass; production of antibodies, hormones, and enzymes; collagen formation and repair of tissue.

      2010, Michael T. Murray, Joseph Pizzorno, The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 65

      Synonyms: mul:Lys, mul:K

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe L-form of such a molecule, as it occurs in living organisms; in humans it is an essential amino acid.

Similar
mul:Lysmul:K

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*lewh₁-
  2. Ancient Greekλύω (lúō)
  3. Ancient Greekλῠ́σῐς (lŭ́sĭs)
  4. Latinlysis
  5. Englishlysis
  6. Englishlysine

From lysis + -ine, in reference to its tendency to participate in catalysis.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian лизин
  • лизин (lizin)essential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Catalan lisina
  • lisinaessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Chinese Mandarin 賴氨酸 /赖氨酸, 離胺酸 /离胺酸
  • 賴氨酸 /赖氨酸 (lài'ānsuān)essential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
  • 離胺酸 /离胺酸 (lí'ānsuān)essential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Czech lysin
  • lysinessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Dutch lysine
  • lysineessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Esperanto lizino
  • lizinoessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Finnish lysiini
  • lysiiniessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
French lysine
  • lysineessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
German Lysin
  • Lysinessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Greek λυσίνη
  • λυσίνη (lysíni)essential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Hebrew ליזין
  • ליזין (lisin)essential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Hungarian lizin
  • lizinessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Italian lisina
  • lisinaessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Japanese リシン
  • リシン (rishin)essential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Latin lysina
  • lysinaessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Latvian lizīns
  • lizīnsessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Lithuanian lisinas
  • lisinasessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Persian لیسین
  • لیسین (lisin)essential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Polish lizyna
  • lizynaessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Portuguese lisina
  • lisinaessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Romanian lizină
  • lizinăessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Russian лизин
  • лизин (lizin)essential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Slovak lyzín
  • lyzínessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Spanish lisina
  • lisinaessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Swedish lysin
  • lysinessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Turkish lizin
  • lizinessential amino acid, C6H14N2O2
Ukrainian лізин
  • лізин (lizyn)essential amino acid, C6H14N2O2

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

linseyInsleyNisleysilyne
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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