lysosome

noun/ˈlaɪsəˌsoʊm/

Frequency rank: #19,774 most common English word

Meaning

A membrane-bound organelle in cells that contains digestive enzymes to break down waste materials and cellular debris.

Illustration for the English word “lysosome”

Example sentence

During digestion of cellular waste, the lysosome releases powerful enzymes that break down old proteins.

Synonyms & related words

Practice this word in the quiz

More words in ranks 19,701–19,800