carbonic anhydrase

[ an-hahy-dreys, -dreyz ]
/ ænˈhaɪ dreɪs, -dreɪz /

noun Biochemistry.

an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible combination of carbon dioxide with water in red blood cells.

Origin of carbonic anhydrase

First recorded in 1835–45; anhydr- + -ase

British Dictionary definitions for carbonic anhydrase

carbonic anhydrase

noun

an enzyme in blood cells that catalyses the decomposition of carbonic acid into carbon dioxide and water, facilitating the transport of carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs