collagen
[ kol-uh-juh n ]
/ ˈkɒl ə dʒən /
noun Biochemistry.
any of a class of extracellular proteins abundant in higher animals, especially in the skin, bone, cartilage, tendon, and teeth, forming strong insoluble fibers and serving as connective tissue between cells, yielding gelatin when denatured by boiling.
Origin of collagen
1860–65; < Greek
kólla glue +
-gen
OTHER WORDS FROM collagen
col·lag·e·nous [kuh-laj-uh-nuh s] /kəˈlædʒ ə nəs/, adjectiveWords nearby collagen
Example sentences from the Web for collagen
As goatskins are so tight fibred, a longer liming and a greater loss of collagen is permissible than with most pelts for chrome.
Animal Proteins |Hugh Garner BennettBy boiling with water, dilute acids or dilute alkalies, collagen is split up into gelatin or glutin.
Principles and Practice of Fur Dressing and Fur Dyeing |William E. Austin
British Dictionary definitions for collagen
collagen
/ (ˈkɒlədʒən) /
noun
a fibrous scleroprotein of connective tissue and bones that is rich in glycine and proline and yields gelatine on boiling
Derived forms of collagen
collagenic (ˌkɒləˈdʒɛnɪk) or collagenous (kəˈlædʒənəs), adjectiveWord Origin for collagen
C19: from Greek
kolla glue +
-gen
Medical definitions for collagen
collagen
[ kŏl′ə-jən ]
n.
The fibrous protein constituent of bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissue that converts into gelatin by boiling.
Scientific definitions for collagen
collagen
[ kŏl′ə-jən ]
Any of various tough, fibrous proteins found in bone, cartilage, skin, and other connective tissue. Collagens have great tensile strength, and provide these body structures with the ability to withstand forces that stretch them. Collagens consist of three polypeptide chains arranged in a triple helix, and are bundled together in fibers. When boiled in water, collagen is converted into gelatin.