glycogen
/ˈɡlaɪ.kə.d͡ʒn̩/ noun
Forms glycogens
- noun (biochemistry) A polysaccharide that is the main form of carbohydrate storage in animals; converted to glucose as needed.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from French glycogène. By surface analysis, glyco- + -gen.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A white, amorphous, tasteless substance resembling starch, soluble in water to an opalescent fluid. It is found abundantly in the liver of most animals, and in small quantity in other organs and tissues, particularly in the embryo. It is quickly changed into sugar when boiled with dilute sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, and also by the action of amylolytic ferments.
Etymology [Gr. -gen: cf. F. glycogène.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “glycogen”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details