polyprotein

P3O1L1Y4P3R1O1T1E1I1N1

noun

Any protein (especially ones produced by viruses) that cleave to produce a number of polypeptides, some of which act as hormones

OriginEnglish protein ← Ancient Greek πολῠ́ς (polŭ́s) ← Proto-Indo-European *polh₁ús →
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

nounpolyprotein (plural polyproteins)

plural polyproteins

  1. biochemistryAny protein (especially ones produced by viruses) that cleave to produce a number of polypeptides, some of which act as hormones

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*polh₁ús
  3. Ancient Greekπολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)
  4. Englishpoly-
  5. Englishprotein
  6. Englishpolyprotein

From poly- + protein.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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