transferase

T1R1A1N1S1F4E1R1A1S1E1

noun

Any of various enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a functional group, such as amine or phosphate from one molecule to another.

OriginEnglish diastase ← Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) ← Proto-Hellenic *hístāmi →
Less commonScrabble 14
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Meanings

nountransferase (plural transferases)

plural transferases

  1. biochemistryAny of various enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a functional group, such as amine or phosphate from one molecule to another.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*terh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*térh₂t
  3. Proto-Indo-European*tr̥h₂ónts
  4. Proto-Indo-European*tr̥h₂n̥ts
  5. Proto-Italic*trāns
  6. Proto-Italic*trāns-
  7. Latintrāns-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*bʰer-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéreti
  10. Proto-Italic*ferō
  11. Latinferō
  12. Latintrānsferō
  13. Englishtransfer
  14. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  15. Proto-Indo-European*trísinflu.
  16. Proto-Indo-European*dwís
  17. Ancient Greekδιά (diá)
  18. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ- (dĭă-)
  19. Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-
  20. Proto-Indo-European*stísteh₂ti
  21. Proto-Hellenic*hístāmi
  22. Ancient Greekῐ̔́στημῐ (hĭ́stēmĭ)
  23. Ancient Greekδῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ)
  24. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs)
  25. Englishdiastase
  26. Englishtransferase

From transfer + -ase.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian трансфераза
  • трансфераза (transferaza)enzyme which catalyses the transfer of a functional group
Catalan transferasa
  • transferasaenzyme which catalyses the transfer of a functional group
Finnish transferaasi
  • transferaasienzyme which catalyses the transfer of a functional group
French transférase
  • transféraseenzyme which catalyses the transfer of a functional group
German Transferase
  • Transferaseenzyme which catalyses the transfer of a functional group
Greek τρανσφεράση
  • τρανσφεράση (transferási)enzyme which catalyses the transfer of a functional group
Italian transferasi
  • transferasienzyme which catalyses the transfer of a functional group
Polish transferaza
  • transferazaenzyme which catalyses the transfer of a functional group
Spanish transferasa
  • transferasaenzyme which catalyses the transfer of a functional group
Vietnamese transferaza
  • transferazaenzyme which catalyses the transfer of a functional group
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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