phytase

P3H4Y4T1A1S1E1

noun

A phosphatase, present in cereals, that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phytic acid into inositol and phosphoric acid.

OriginEnglish diastase ← Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) →
UncommonScrabble 15
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Meanings

nounphytase (plural phytases)

plural phytases

  1. biochemistryA phosphatase, present in cereals, that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phytic acid into inositol and phosphoric acid.

Origin

  1. Englishphytic
  2. Ancient Greekδῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ)
  3. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs)
  4. Englishdiastase
  5. Englishphytase

From phytic + -ase.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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