| -ase | |
| —suffix forming nouns | |
| indicating an enzyme: oxidase | |
| [abstracted from | |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
-ase suff.
Enzyme: amylase.
| -ase
A suffix used to form the names of enzymes. It is often added to the name of the compound that the enzyme breaks down, as in lactase, which breaks down lactose. It is also added to a word describing the enzyme's activity, as in transferase, which catalyzes the transfer of a chemical group from one molecule to another, or reductase, which catalyzes the reduction of an organic compound. |