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Glite Dictionary
to hemolyze

to hemolyze

1 9.5
Cause red blood cells to break and release their contents into the blood
  • verb
  • /ˈhɛməˌlaɪz/
  • Specialized
: hemolizar
  • The laboratory technician checked to ensure the sample did not hemolyze during transport.

Examples

  • If a blood sample is mishandled, the red cells may hemolyze and affect test results.

  • The toxin can hemolyze red blood cells.

  • Certain diseases can hemolyze red blood cells, leading to anemia.

  • Certain bacteria hemolyze blood in culture.

  • The technician warned that incorrect handling would cause the samples to hemolyze.

  • When exposed to high temperatures, the blood sample may hemolyze rapidly.

  • She observed that the cells began to hemolyze when mixed with the saline solution.

Surface Forms

hemolyze infinitive
haemolyze infinitive
hemolyzed past
haemolyzed past
hemolyzed past participle
haemolyzed past participle
hemolyzing present participle
haemolyzing present participle
hemolyzes third person singular
haemolyzes third person singular

Morphology

hemolyze = hemolysis (opaque) = hemo + lyse

The relation is technical and requires biomedical knowledge of 'hemolysis', so the verb is not transparently derivable for an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Hemolyze comes from Greek parts hemo- meaning 'blood' and -lyze from lysis meaning 'to break down' or 'loosen'. So, to hemolyze is to make red blood cells break open and release their contents, which is why hemolysis can change blood test results.