rennin

noun

ren·​nin ˈre-nən 

: an enzyme that coagulates milk and is used in making cheese and junkets

especially : one from the mucous membrane of the stomach of a calf

Word History

Etymology

rennet + -in entry 1

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rennin

noun

ren·​nin ˈren-ən 

: a stomach enzyme that curdles milk

Medical Definition

rennin

noun

ren·​nin ˈren-ən 

: a crystallizable enzyme that coagulates milk, that occurs especially with pepsin in the gastric juice of young animals and is obtained as a yellowish powder, grains, or scales usually by extraction of the mucous membrane of the fourth stomach of calves, and that is used chiefly in making cheese and casein for plastics

called also chymosin