a tough, fibrous, insoluble protein forming the principal matter of hair, nails, horn, etc.
Origin of keratin
kerat(o)- + -inkeratin
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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keratin
noun
- Any of a class of filamentous proteins that are abundant in the cytoskeleton of vertebrate epithelial cells and are the main constituents of the outer layer of skin and tough epidermal structures such as hair, nails, hooves, feathers, and claws.
- Material composed principally of keratin proteins.
Origin of keratin
Greek keras kerāt- horn ; see ker-1 in Indo-European roots. -inRelated Forms:
- ke·rat′i·nous
adjective
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Any of a class of tough, fibrous proteins that are the main structural component of hair, nails, horns, feathers, and hooves. Keratins are rich in sulfur-containing amino acids, especially cysteine. Individual keratin molecules are entwined helically around each other in long filaments, which are cross-linked by bonds between sulfur atoms on different chains. The twining and cross-linking produce strength and toughness.
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Noun
(countable and uncountable, plural keratins)
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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keratin - Medical Definition
n.
- Any of a class of filamentous proteins that are abundant in the cytoskeleton of vertebrate epithelial cells and are the main constituents of the outer layer of skin and tough epidermal structures such as hair, nails, hooves, feathers, and claws.
- Material composed principally of keratin proteins.
Related Forms:
- ke·rat′i·nous (kə-răt′n-əs)
adj.
The American Heritage Dictionary of Medicine © 2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"Keratin." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/KERATIN.
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Sentence Examples
- There seems to be confusion and sometimes a breakdown in communication between stylists and clients since the term "Brazilian Blowout" has become somewhat of a catch-all description for keratin hair straightening processes.
- Except for a few growing cells at the base of the root, hair, which is composed of keratin and other proteins, is dead tissue.
- Other gel systems bond to the nail with a comparatively weak hydrogen bond, while Brisa bonds with the keratin of the nail plate.
- Brazilian Blowout is a brand of keratin treatment performed in salons that gives smooth, shiny, frizz-free, often perfect hair.
- Typical albuminoids are gelatin, keratin, elastin, fibroin, spongin and conchiolin.
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