Protein — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈprō-ˌtēn/ pro·tein

Meaning & Definition of Protein

Protein (noun)

  1. any of various naturally occurring extremely complex substances that consist of amino-acid residues joined by peptide bonds, contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, usually sulfur, and occasionally other elements (such as phosphorus or iron), and include many essential biological compounds (such as enzymes, hormones, or antibodies)
  2. the total nitrogenous material in plant or animal substances
  3. a food (such as meat or tofu) that is rich in protein

Word Forms of Protein

Inflections: proteins

Origin & Etymology of Protein

borrowed from French protéine, from Late Greek prōteîos "of the first quality" (from Greek prôtos "first, foremost" + -eios, adjective suffix, originally from s-stems) + -ine -ine:1 proto-

First known use: 1886

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Protein

Words & Phrases Containing Protein

protein C, protein kinase, protein kinase C, protein S, Bence-Jones protein, conjugated protein, C-reactive protein, fish protein concentrate, G protein

Frequently Asked Questions about Protein

What does "Protein" mean?

"Protein" means any of various naturally occurring extremely complex substances that consist of amino-acid residues joined by peptide bonds, contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, usually sulfur, and occasionally other elements (such as phosphorus or iron), and include many essential biological compounds (such as enzymes, hormones, or antibodies). As a noun, it is defined as: any of various naturally occurring extremely complex substances that consist of amino-acid residues joined by peptide bonds, contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, usually sulfur, and occasionally other elements (such as phosphorus or iron), and include many essential biological compounds (such as enzymes, hormones, or antibodies). It has 3 distinct senses.

Is "Protein" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Protein" is a noun.

Is "Protein" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Protein" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Protein"?

"Protein" is pronounced /ˈprō-ˌtēn/ and divided into syllables as pro·tein.

What is the origin of the word "Protein"?

"Protein" comes from borrowed from French protéine, from Late Greek prōteîos "of the first quality" (from Greek prôtos "first, foremost" + -eios, adjective suffix, originally from s-stems) + -ine -ine:1 proto-. First known use: 1886.

What CEFR level is "Protein"?

"Protein" is a B2-level word in SophDict's CEFR vocabulary lists, which group English words from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient).

What topics is "Protein" used in?

"Protein" is commonly used in topics such as Science & Research.

What are the forms of "Protein"?

The word forms of "Protein" include proteins.