Meaning & use
hydrolyzed
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“hydrolyzed” is a form of “hydrolyze”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitivechemistrytechnical
Past tense and past participle of hydrolyze: to break a chemical compound apart by reacting it with water.
Grammar: With an object when someone causes the reaction: the enzyme hydrolyzed the starch. Without one when it happens by itself: the ester hydrolyzed slowly.
Patterns
- hydrolyze something
- something hydrolyzes
The enzyme hydrolyzed the starch into simple sugars.
In acid, the compound hydrolyzed within minutes.
The researchers hydrolyzed the fat to measure its fatty acids.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Describing a substance, especially a protein, that has been broken down into smaller parts by reaction with water.
Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: hydrolyzed protein.
Patterns
- hydrolyzed protein
- hydrolyzed collagen
The label lists hydrolyzed soy protein as an ingredient.
Hydrolyzed collagen dissolves easily in hot drinks.
The baby formula contains hydrolyzed milk protein.
Word forms
| base form | hydrolyze |
|---|---|
| third person singular | hydrolyzes |
| -ing form | hydrolyzing |
Common combinations
- hydrolyzed protein
- Hydrolyzed protein adds a savory taste to soups.
- hydrolyzed collagen
- She mixes hydrolyzed collagen into her morning coffee.
- partially hydrolyzed
- The starch was only partially hydrolyzed.
- fully hydrolyzed
- The fat was fully hydrolyzed after two hours.
- hydrolyzed by an enzyme
- Lactose is hydrolyzed by an enzyme called lactase.
Synonyms and how they differ
- broken down
- Broken down is everyday language and does not say that water is involved, unlike hydrolyzed.
- digested
- Digested describes breakdown in the body, while hydrolyzed describes a specific chemical reaction that can occur anywhere.
- decomposed
- Decomposed means rotted or split up in a general way, and does not require a reaction with water.
- cleaved
- Cleaved is a technical word meaning split at a specific bond, and is wider than the use of water.
Opposites
Word family
- hydrolyze verb
- to break down with water
- hydrolysis noun
- the chemical breakdown of a compound by water
- hydrolytic adjective
- relating to hydrolysis
- hydrolysate noun
- the product of hydrolysis
Commonly confused: hydrolyzed or hydrated? hydrolyzed or dehydrated?
hydrolyzed vs hydrated
Hydrated means supplied with or combined with water, without being broken apart. Hydrolyzed means split by water.
hydrolyzed vs dehydrated
Dehydrated means having lost water, the opposite of hydrated.
Practice
Which statement best describes hydrolyzed protein?
Choose one answer.
Hydrolyzed means split by reaction with water. Freezing, drying and mixing with oil do not break the protein chemically.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hydrolyzed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.