lignin

[ lig-nin ]

noun

1. Botany. an organic substance that, with cellulose, forms the chief part of woody tissue.
2. Papermaking. impure matter found in wood pulp.

lignin

/ ˈlɪɡnɪn /

noun

1. a complex polymer occurring in certain plant cell walls making the plant rigid

lignin

/ lĭg′nĭn /

1. A complex organic compound that binds to cellulose fibers and hardens and strengthens the cell walls of plants. Lignin is a polymer consisting of various aromatic alcohols, and is the chief noncarbohydrate constituent of wood.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lignin¹

First recorded in 1815–25; lign- + -in ²

Example Sentences

He says it improves the ‘tannin and lignin extraction from the tea leaves,’ and I guess his family thought that was important.

From Salon

Microbiologists have long known that those animals capable of digesting lignin -- like termites -- host specialized, symbiotic colonies of microbes in their guts that do the work of breaking the lignin down for them.

From Science Daily

This new research explored the origin and evolution of the biochemical machinery that builds lignin, a structural component of plant cell walls with significant impacts on the clean energy industry.

From Science Daily

Furthermore, the molecularly evolved enzyme also exhibited conversion activity towards p-coumaric acid and sinapic acid, which are compounds obtained from the degradation of lignin -- a common agricultural waste product.

From Science Daily

A battery made from zinc and lignin that can be used over 8000 times.

From Science Daily