Definition

Made of a tough protein that is found in hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin.

Example

The outer layer of the animal's skin is keratinous, providing protection against the environment.

Conversation

I learned that our hair is actually keratinous in nature.

Really? I didn’t know that!

Yeah, it’s interesting how much keratin affects its strength and texture.

That makes sense! I guess that's why hair treatments focus on repairing keratin.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Keratinous → It is formed from "keratin" (from Greek "keratinos", meaning horn) and the suffix "-ous" (meaning full of or possessing). The word "keratinous" describes something that is full of or related to keratin, a protein found in horns, hair, and nails.

Memory Tip

Think of 'keratin' as the substance found in horns and remember that 'keratinous' means something that is full of or related to this horn-like protein.

Visually Confused Words