chitin
pronunciation
How to pronounce chitin in British English:
UK ['kaɪtɪn]
How to pronounce chitin in American English:
US ['kaɪtɪn]
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- Noun:
- a tough semitransparent horny substance; the principal component of the exoskeletons of arthropods and the cell walls of certain fungi
Word Origin
- chitin (n.)
- 1836, from French chitine, from Greek khiton "frock, tunic," of soldiers, "coat of mail," used metaphorically for "any coat or covering." "Probably an Oriental word" [Liddell & Scott]. Klein compares Hebrew kuttoneth "coat," Aramaic kittana, Arabic kattan "linen."
Example
- 1. Another protein appears to bind to chitin .
- 2. Progress in the studies of fungal chitin synthases .
- 3. While animals like butterflies and peacocks produce iridescent color using layers of chitin , iridescence is almost unheard-of in plants .
- 4. Relationship between concentration of colloidal chitin and initial velocity of enzymatic reaction .
- 5. Observation of chitin modified spray treatment of eczema of the auricle .