phospholipase

P3H4O1S1P3H4O1L1I1P3A1S1E1

noun

Any of several enzymes that hydrolyze the phosphate ester bonds of phospholipids.

OriginEnglish lipase ← Latin phōsphorus ← Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros) →
Less commonScrabble 25
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Meanings

nounphospholipase (plural phospholipases)

plural phospholipases

  1. biochemistryAny of several enzymes that hydrolyze the phosphate ester bonds of phospholipids.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωσφόρος (phōsphóros)
  7. Latinphōsphorus
  8. Englishphosphorus
  9. Englishphospho-
  10. Englishlipase
  11. Englishphospholipase

From phospho- + lipase.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish fosfolipaasi
  • fosfolipaasienzyme that hydrolyses phospholipids
Italian fosfolipasi
  • fosfolipasienzyme that hydrolyses phospholipids
Spanish fosfolipasa
  • fosfolipasaenzyme that hydrolyses phospholipids
Swedish fosfolipas
  • fosfolipasenzyme that hydrolyses phospholipids
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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