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

The sediment contains a few hyaline and finely granular casts and an occasional red blood-cell.

From Project Gutenberg

When well stained, a delicate hyaline peripheral zone can be distinguished.

From Project Gutenberg

It makes its way into a red corpuscle, where it appears as a small, pale "hyaline" body.

From Project Gutenberg

Then fibrin and hyaline tissue are stained deep blue, whilst bacteria which "stain Gram" appear of a deep blue-violet colour.

From Project Gutenberg

Its wings are hyaline, the thorax has five black spots, and the abdomen three rows of similar spots.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• glazed
• icy
• shiny
• sleek