collagen
English
Etymology
From French collagène, coined from Ancient Greek κόλλα (kólla, “glue”) and -γενής (-genḗs, “-forming”) (see -gen); it is the main substance that animal glues are derived from. Doublet of collage, colloid, and protocol.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkɒləd͡ʒən/, /ˈkɒləd͡ʒɪn/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
collagen (countable and uncountable, plural collagens)
- (biochemistry) The main structural protein in the extracellular matrix of the connective tissues of many animals.
- 1843, R. F. Marchand, “On the Chemical Composition of the Bones”, in The Chemist, volume 4, page 57:
- Science cannot yet account for the conversion of collagen into gelatin.
Derived terms
Translations
glycoprotein that forms elongated fibers
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