heme
|heme|
C1
/hiːm/
iron-containing compound
Etymology
Etymology Information
'heme' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'haima,' where 'haima' meant 'blood.'
Historical Evolution
'haima' transformed into the Latin word 'haem,' and eventually became the modern English word 'heme' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'blood,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a component of hemoglobin.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a deep red, iron-containing compound that forms the non-protein part of hemoglobin and some other biological molecules.
Heme is crucial for oxygen transport in the blood.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/02 11:37