lysis
|ly-sis|
/ˈlaɪsɪs/
breaking apart / release
Etymology
'lysis' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'λύσις' (lýsis), where the root 'λύ-' (ly-) meant 'to loosen' or 'to release'.
'lysis' passed into New Latin/Modern scientific Latin as 'lysis' and was adopted into English in the 19th century as a technical term in medicine and biology.
Initially, it meant 'loosening' or 'release' in general; over time it became specialized to mean 'breaking apart' or 'destruction' of cells or structures in biological and medical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the disintegration or rupture of a cell membrane, resulting in the release of the cell's contents (often caused by viral infection, osmotic imbalance, or enzymatic action).
The lysis of bacterial cells released intracellular enzymes used for the assay.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/07 04:35