telomerase

T1E1L1O1M3E1R1A1S1E1
US/teˈlɑməɹeɪs/UK/teˈlɒməɹeɪz/

noun

An enzyme in eukaryotic cells that adds a specific sequence of DNA to the telomeres of chromosomes after they divide; gives the chromosomes stability over time.

OriginEnglish diastase ← Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) ← Proto-Hellenic *hístāmi →
Less commonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nountelomerase (plural telomerases)

plural telomerases

  1. biochemistryAn enzyme in eukaryotic cells that adds a specific sequence of DNA to the telomeres of chromosomes after they divide; gives the chromosomes stability over time.

Origin

  1. Englishtelomere
  2. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  3. Proto-Indo-European*trísinflu.
  4. Proto-Indo-European*dwís
  5. Ancient Greekδιά (diá)
  6. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ- (dĭă-)
  7. Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*stísteh₂ti
  9. Proto-Hellenic*hístāmi
  10. Ancient Greekῐ̔́στημῐ (hĭ́stēmĭ)
  11. Ancient Greekδῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ)
  12. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs)
  13. Englishdiastase
  14. Englishtelomerase

From telomere + -ase.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 端粒酶
  • 端粒酶 (duānlìméi)enzyme in eukaryotic cells
Czech telomeráza
  • telomerázaenzyme in eukaryotic cells
Finnish telomeraasi
  • telomeraasienzyme in eukaryotic cells
Polish telomeraza
  • telomerazaenzyme in eukaryotic cells
Russian теломераза
  • теломераза (telomeraza)enzyme in eukaryotic cells
Spanish telomerasa
  • telomerasaenzyme in eukaryotic cells
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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