elastase

noun

elas·​tase i-ˈla-ˌstās How to pronounce elastase (audio)
-ˌstāz
: an enzyme especially of pancreatic juice that digests elastin

Examples of elastase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
One study found that rice water contains the same biological antioxidant activity as vitamin C.2 Rice water may also lessen the activity of an enzyme called elastase, which is involved in skin aging. — Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Dec. 2024 Researchers haven’t identified any upper limit for normal elastase results. — Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

elastin + -ase

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elastase was in 1949

Rhymes for elastase

See All Rhymes for elastase

Browse Nearby Words

elastase
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elastase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elastase. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

elastase

noun
elas·​tase i-ˈlas-ˌtās, -ˌtāz How to pronounce elastase (audio)
: an enzyme especially of pancreatic juice that digests elastin

More from Merriam-Webster on elastase

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elastase

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All