hyaline

[ noun hahy-uh-leen, -lin; adjective hahy-uh-lin, -lahyn ]

noun

1. Also hy·a·lin [] Biochemistry.
   1. a horny substance found in hydatid cysts, closely resembling chitin.
   2. a structureless, transparent substance found in cartilage, the eye, etc., resulting from the pathological degeneration of tissue.
2. something glassy or transparent.

adjective

1. of or relating to hyaline.
2. glassy or transparent.
3. of or relating to glass.
4. amorphous; not crystalline.

hyaline

/ ˈhaɪəlɪn /

adjective

1. biology clear and translucent, with no fibres or granules
2. archaic.
   transparent

noun

1. archaic.
   a glassy transparent surface

Other Words From

• sub·hya·lin adjective
• sub·hya·line adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyaline¹

1655–65; < Late Latin hyalinus < Greek hyálinos of glass. See hyal-, -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyaline¹

C17: from Late Latin hyalinus, from Greek hualinos of glass, from hualos glass

Example Sentences

I take a picture of the hyaline waters sitting on my duff.

From Seattle Times

She was born with juvenile hyaline fibromatosis - a rare genetic condition that causes tumours to grow on the body as a result of trauma and often leads to severe physical impairment.

From BBC

As opposed to microfracture, in which fibrocartilage is formed to help seal the holes in damaged cartilage, the tissue that is created in the lab is hyaline cartilage.

From US News

The term hyaline refers to a glassy membrane that can form in the air sacs of premature infants, impeding their ability to extract oxygen from inhaled air.

From New York Times

A Career Turn, Not on the Map I WAS born prematurely with hyaline membrane disease, also called infant respiratory distress syndrome.

From New York Times

Related Words

• glazed
• icy
• shiny
• sleek