- any of several enzymes that hydrolyse starch and glycogen to simple sugars, such as glucose. They are present in saliva
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
am•yl•ase
(am′ə lās′, -lāz′),USA pronunciation n. [Biochem.]
- Biochemistryany of a widely distributed class of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of starch, glycogen, and related polysaccharides to oligosaccharides, maltose, or glucose.
- Biochemistryany of several digestive enzymes that break down starches.
- amyl- + -ase 1890–95
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
amylase /ˈæmɪˌleɪz/ n
'amylase' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):