[en-zahym] 
| any of various proteins, as pepsin, originating from living cells and capable of producing certain chemical changes in organic substances by catalytic action, as in digestion. |
| en·zyme (ěn'zīm) n. Any of numerous proteins or conjugated proteins produced by living organisms and functioning as biochemical catalysts. [German Enzym, from Medieval Greek enzūmos, leavened : Greek en-, in; see en-2 + Greek zūmē, leaven, yeast.] en'zy·mat'ic (-zə-māt'ĭk), en·zy'mic (-zī'mĭk, -zĭm'ĭk) adj., en'zy·mat'i·cal·ly, en·zy'mi·cal·ly adv. |
A protein molecule that helps other organic molecules enter into chemical reactions with one another but is itself unaffected by these reactions. In other words, enzymes act as catalysts for organic biochemical reactions.
enzyme en·zyme (ěn'zīm)
n.
Any of numerous proteins or conjugated proteins produced by living organisms and functioning as specialized catalysts for biochemical reactions.
zaɪm