secretase

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noun

An enzyme that "snips" pieces off a longer protein that is embedded in the cell membrane.

OriginEnglish diastase ← Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) →
UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

nounsecretase (plural secretases)

plural secretases

  1. biochemistryAn enzyme that "snips" pieces off a longer protein that is embedded in the cell membrane.

Origin

  1. Englishsecrete
  2. Ancient Greekδῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ)
  3. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs)
  4. Englishdiastase
  5. Englishsecretase

From secrete + -ase.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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