hemicellulose
|hem-i-cel-lu-lose|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌhɛmɪˈsɛljuloʊz/
🇬🇧
/ˌhɛmɪˈsɛljʊləʊz/
plant cell wall component
Etymology
Etymology Information
'hemicellulose' originates from the combination of 'hemi-' meaning 'half' and 'cellulose', referring to its partial similarity to cellulose.
Historical Evolution
'hemicellulose' was derived from the combination of the Greek prefix 'hemi-' and the word 'cellulose', which was coined in the 19th century.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to a substance similar to cellulose, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a group of complex carbohydrates that, along with cellulose, form the cell walls of plants.
Hemicellulose is an important component in the structure of plant cell walls.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/16 00:41