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enzima

enzyme

noun en-SEE-mah Rare

Origin: From German Enzym, from Greek en ('in') + zyme ('leaven').

Usage Note

Enzima is feminine in standard Spanish (la enzima), though some scientific texts use the masculine el enzima — the RAE accepts both genders. It refers to a biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions. The adjective is enzimático/a; enzimología is the study of enzymes.

Examples

"La enzima digestiva descompone las proteínas en el estómago."

Natural Translation

The digestive enzyme breaks down proteins in the stomach.

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