protein

From proto- +‎ -ein. Suggested by Jöns Jacob Berzelius in a letter to Gerardus Johannes Mulder, from French protéine and German Protein, both coined based on Ancient Greek πρωτεῖος (prōteîos, “primary”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”).^[1]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹəʊ.ti.ɪn/, /ˈpɹəʊ.tiːn/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹoʊ.tiːn/
• (US, dated) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹoʊ.ti.ɪn/
  • Homophone: protean

• Audio (US):

  (file)

protein (countable and uncountable, plural proteins)

2. (biochemistry, countable) Any of numerous large, complex naturally-produced molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids, in which the amino acid groups are held together by peptide bonds.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:protein

   Meronym: amino acid

   • 2010, Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Emperor of All Maladies, Fourth Estate (2011), page 534:

     Proteins carry out the bulk of cellular functions, including relaying signals, providing structural support, and accelerating biochemical reactions.

   • 2017 December 18, Ashley Strickland, “Mystery condition gives way to bright future for 10-year-old”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     Because of her significant testing, Avery had had DNA sequencing of her “exome,” the part of her genome that makes proteins in the body, said Dr. Michael Wangler, a researcher at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital.

4. (nutrition, uncountable) One of three major classes of food or source of food energy (4 kcal/gram) abundant in animal-derived foods (meat) and some vegetables, such as legumes.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:protein

   Coordinate terms: carbohydrate, fat

   • 2025 April 15, Andrea Kane, “How to boost protein in your diet, without losing other nutrients. 5 tips from an expert”, in CNN‎^[2]:

     Along with carbohydrates and fat, protein is one of the three main macronutrients that make up our diet. Furthermore, it is the only macronutrient that supplies us with amino acids, making it essential for survival.

5. (nutrition, countable) A food rich in protein, often a meat or meat substitute.
   • 2015 April 29, Mandy Unanski Enright, “One Meal, Two Proteins”, in Nutrition Nuptials‎^[3], archived from the original on 11 April 2019:

     The preparation style should be the same for both proteins so that the side dishes compliment the meal.

   • 2017, Daphne's California Greek, Catering Menu‎^[4]:

     Served with seasoned rice, classic Greek salad, pita, tzatziki, choice of 2 proteins & 2 sides

   • 2018 May 31, Mary Kekatos, Daily Mail‎^[5]:

     What should you get for lunch at a halal cart? Nutritionists explain how to pick a protein that isn't packed with calories and why you should beware the white sauce

• proteic
• proteo-

• protein on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• protein on Wikiversity.Wikiversity

• Petrino, Petroni, Pointer, interop, pointer, pterion, repoint, tropein, tropine

• IPA^(key): [ˈprotɛjn]
• IPA^(key): [ˈprotɛɪn]
• IPA^(key): [ˈprotɛiːn]

protein m inan

1. (biochemistry) protein

   Synonym: bílkovina

• “protein”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “protein”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
• “protein”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2025

From Ancient Greek πρῶτος (prôtos) +‎ -in.

• IPA^(key): /ˈpʁotəˈiˀn/

protein n (singular definite proteinet, plural indefinite proteiner)

1. (biochemistry) protein

   Synonyms: proteinstof, æggehvidestof, æggehvide

• “protein” in Den Danske Ordbog

From English protein.^[1]

• IPA^(key): [ˈprotɛjin]
• Hyphenation: pro‧te‧in
• Rhymes: -in

protein (plural proteinek)

1. (biochemistry) protein

• protein in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.

From Dutch proteïne, from French protéine and German Protein, both coined based on Ancient Greek πρωτεῖος (prōteîos, “primary”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”).

• IPA^(key): /proˈteɪn/
• Rhymes: -ɪn, -n
• Hyphenation: pro‧té‧in

protéin (plural protein-protein)

1. (biochemistry, nutrition) protein

• protin (Standard Malay)

• “protein” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

protein n (definite singular proteinet, indefinite plural protein or proteiner, definite plural proteina or proteinene)

1. (biochemistry) protein

• “protein” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

protein n (definite singular proteinet, indefinite plural protein, definite plural proteina)

1. (biochemistry) protein

• “protein” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

protein n (uncountable)

1. (biochemistry) protein

   Synonym: äggviteämne

• protein in Svenska Akademiens ordböcker

• entropi, inropet

Borrowed from French protéine.

• IPA^(key): /pɾo.te.in/
• Hyphenation: pro‧te‧in

protein (definite accusative proteini, plural proteinler)

1. (biochemistry)

• prô-tê-in

From French protéine.

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [pɹo˧˧ te˧˧ ʔin˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [pɹow˧˧ tej˧˧ ʔin˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [pɹow˧˧ tej˧˧ ʔɨn˧˧]
• Phonetic spelling: prô tê in

protein

1. (biochemistry) protein

   Synonym: chất đạm