TOP

Definition of protein noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

protein

noun
 
 
/ˈprəʊtiːn/
 
/ˈprəʊtiːn/
[countable, uncountable]
jump to other results
  1. a substance, found within all living things, that forms the structure of muscles, organs, etc. There are many different proteins and they are an essential part of what humans and animals eat to help them grow and stay healthy.
    • essential proteins and vitamins
    • protein deficiency
    • Peas, beans and lentils are a good source of vegetable protein.
    • Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains.
    see also enzyme, spike protein, textured vegetable protein
    Wordfinder
    Topics Cooking and eatingb2, Biologyb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • essential
    • natural
    • animal
    • …
    verb + protein
    • contain
    • supply
    • be high in
    • …
    protein + verb
    • be found in something
    protein + noun
    • content
    • level
    • intake
    • …
    phrases
    • a source of protein
    See full entry
    Word Originmid 19th cent.: from French protéine, German Protein, from Greek prōteios ‘primary’, from prōtos ‘first’.
See protein in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee protein in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: protein

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day