Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
cytolysis

cytolysis

9.9
Cells break open when something destroys their outer membrane
  • noun
  • /saɪˈtɒlɪsɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : citólisis
  • In certain diseases, cytolysis can result in the death of healthy cells.

Examples

  • The scientist studied cytolysis to understand how toxins can harm living cells.

  • Cytolysis: The breaking down or loss of cells is called cytolysis.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Cytolysis: The breaking down or loss of cells is called cytolysis.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Cytolysis occurs when the outer membrane of a cell is damaged, leading to cytolysis.

Synonyms

lysis
vscytolysis
  • Specialized
1 9.3

The breaking open and death of cells that releases their contents

is specifically the disease related breakdown caused by outer membrane destruction

Antonyms

regeneration
  • Specialized
15 4.7

Growing new body parts or tissue after damage

How Severe

cytolysis
  • Specialized
9.9
injury
∞ 1.4

Surface Forms

cytolysis singular
cytolyses plural

Morphology

cytolysis = lysis (semi-transparent) = cyto + lysis

The meaning is compositionally 'cyto-' (cell) + 'lysis' (breakdown) and is clear in biomedical contexts, but the combining form 'cyto-' is technical and may be unfamiliar to average B1 learners.

Etymology

Cytolysis comes from Greek parts cyto- meaning 'cell' and -lysis meaning 'breaking', the same -lysis you find in dialysis. So, cytolysis literally means the 'breaking' of cells, which is why it describes the destruction of a cell's outer membrane and the damage that follows.