ptyalin

P3T1Y4A1L1I1N1

noun

A form of amylase found in saliva that breaks down starch into maltose and dextrin.

OriginAncient Greek πτύαλον →
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Meanings

nounptyalin (usually uncountable, plural ptyalins)

plural ptyalins

  1. uncountableusuallybiochemistryA form of amylase found in saliva that breaks down starch into maltose and dextrin.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekπτύαλον“saliva”
  2. Englishptyalin

From Ancient Greek πτύαλον (ptúalon, “saliva”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

inaptly
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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