autolysis
noun
au·tol·y·sis
ȯ-ˈtä-lə-səs 
: breakdown of all or part of a cell or tissue by self-produced enzymes
Examples of autolysis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Per Liger-Belair, there's a common misconception, even among champagne enthusiasts, that the wine should not age beyond this point, but this yeast autolysis is a slow process, so higher-quality champagnes are allowed to age on lees even longer.
—
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 July 2023
Cells deprived of oxygen start digesting themselves in a process called autolysis.
—Jennifer Debruyn, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2023
Then, cells begin to break down as the body’s own enzymes destroy them — a process called autolysis.
—Alison Klesman, Discover Magazine, 29 Sep. 2021
One of the imperfections is that autolysis – the process wherein a cell’s own enzymes begin to consume it – is not stopped or reversed.
—Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2010
When small fish start to decay, the bacterial flora in their guts burst through cell walls, initiating the process of autolysis.
—Taras Grescoe, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2021
This is because of the quick breakdown process known as autolysis, which begins almost immediately after death and involves enzymes breaking down the tissue.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Jan. 2020
According to researchers, brains tend to decompose quickly after death in a rapid process of autolysis, where enzymes break up the tissue.
—Fox News, 12 Jan. 2020
This means that the autolysis breakdown process was prevented from the outside of the brain, essentially being deactivated.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Jan. 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 July 2023
Cells deprived of oxygen start digesting themselves in a process called autolysis.
—Jennifer Debruyn, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2023
Then, cells begin to break down as the body’s own enzymes destroy them — a process called autolysis.
—Alison Klesman, Discover Magazine, 29 Sep. 2021
One of the imperfections is that autolysis – the process wherein a cell’s own enzymes begin to consume it – is not stopped or reversed.
—Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2010
When small fish start to decay, the bacterial flora in their guts burst through cell walls, initiating the process of autolysis.
—Taras Grescoe, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2021
This is because of the quick breakdown process known as autolysis, which begins almost immediately after death and involves enzymes breaking down the tissue.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Jan. 2020
According to researchers, brains tend to decompose quickly after death in a rapid process of autolysis, where enzymes break up the tissue.
—Fox News, 12 Jan. 2020
This means that the autolysis breakdown process was prevented from the outside of the brain, essentially being deactivated.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Jan. 2020
Dictionary Entries Near autolysis
Cite this Entry
“Autolysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autolysis. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share