Definition

A process in living cells that breaks down glucose to produce energy and pyruvic acid.

Example

Glycolysis is the first step in cellular respiration, where glucose is converted into energy.

Conversation

Have you heard about glycolysis?

Yeah, I learned about it in biology class last week.

It's interesting how it converts glucose into energy.

Definitely! It's amazing how our bodies use glycolysis to generate ATP.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Glycolysis → It is formed from 'glyco-' (from Greek 'glykys', meaning sweet) and 'lysis' (from Greek 'lysis', meaning to loosen or break down). The word 'glycolysis' refers to the process of breaking down glucose (a sweet sugar) into smaller molecules for energy.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sweet' ('glyco-') being 'broken down' ('lysis') — that's why glycolysis is the process of breaking down sweet sugars for energy.

Visually Confused Words