diastase Hear it!

diastase Definition

dia·stase (ə stās′)

noun

a vegetable amylase enzyme, occurring in the seed of grains and malt, that is capable of changing starches into maltose and later into dextrose

Etymology: Fr < Gr diastasis, a separation < dia, apart + histanai, stand

Related Forms:

  • diastatic di′a·stat′ic (dī′ə statik) adjective
diastase Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • secrete: During germination the barley secretes the enzyme diastase which makes the starch in the barley soluble, thus preparing it for conversion into sugar.
  • call: The enzyme in plants which breaks down starch is sometimes called Diastase.

Browse dictionary entries near diastase

  1. diaspore
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  3. Dias
  4. diary
  5. diarthrosis
  6. diarthroses
  7. diarrhoea
  8. diarrhetic
  9. diarrheic
  10. diarrheal
  1. diastatic
  2. diastem
  3. diastema
  4. diastemata
  5. diastematic
  6. diaster
  7. diastole
  8. diastolic
  9. diastral
  10. diastrophic