Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
lys-
lyse
Lysenkoism
lysergic acid
lysergic acid diethylamide
lysin
lysine
-lysis
lysis
Lysithea
lyso-
lysogen
lysogenic
lysogenize
lysogeny
lysosome
lysozyme
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "lysis" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

lysis

ly·sis [ lssiss ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. destructive disruption of cells: the destruction of cells by disruption of the bounding membrane, allowing the cell contents to escape

2. gradual reduction of disease symptoms: a gradual reduction in severity of a patient's signs and symptoms during the course of a disease

[Mid-16th century. Via Latin, "loosening" < Greek lusis< luein "loosen"]
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft