chitin

[ kahy-tin ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide, related chemically to cellulose, that forms a semitransparent horny substance and is a principal constituent of the exoskeleton, or outer covering, of insects, crustaceans, and arachnids.

chitin

/ ˈkaɪtɪn /

noun

1. a polysaccharide that is the principal component of the exoskeletons of arthropods and of the bodies of fungi

chitin

/ kīt′n /

1. A tough, semitransparent substance that is the main component of the exoskeletons of arthropods, such as the shells of crustaceans and the outer coverings of insects. Chitin is also found in the cell walls of certain fungi and algae. Chemically, it is a nitrogenous polysaccharide (a carbohydrate).

Derived Forms

• ˈchitinˌoid, adjective
• ˈchitinous, adjective

Other Words From

• chitin·ous chitin·oid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chitin¹

1830–40; < French chitine < Greek chit ( ṓn ) tunic, chiton + French -ine -in ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of chitin¹

C19: from French chitine, from Greek khitōn chiton + -in

Example Sentences

However, the bristle worms have a somewhat softer chitin -- the so-called beta chitin -- which is particularly interesting for biomedical applications.

From Science Daily

One tricky aspect of recycling, though, is that sometimes the recycling process is chemically intensive, and this is the case for recycling one of the world's most abundant materials -- chitin.

From Science Daily

Chitosan is a sugary polymer that can be easily made from the chitin shells of shellfish and has already found its way into wide-ranging commercial applications.

From Science Daily

In these tests, they used chitin fragments to trigger an immune response in the cells as chitin is an essential component of the cell walls of microorganisms such as molds and fungi.

From Science Daily

The mycelium fibers from the fruiting body contain proteins, chitin, and polysaccharides, which make them ideal for making packaging materials, soundproofing, textiles, and much more.

From Science Daily