Definition

A type of enzyme that helps speed up the process of oxidation, particularly by reacting with oxygen to change other substances.

Example

The scientist studied the oxidase to understand its role in cellular respiration.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the enzyme called oxidase?

Yeah, I think it's involved in some pretty interesting chemical reactions.

Exactly! It helps catalyze oxidation, especially with oxygen.

That sounds fascinating! I’d love to learn more about how it works.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Oxidase is formed from "oxid" (from Latin "oxydare", meaning to combine with oxygen) and "-ase" (a suffix used in biochemistry to denote enzymes). The word "oxidase" refers to an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of a substance, meaning it facilitates the process of combining that substance with oxygen.

Memory Tip

Think of 'oxid' as relating to oxygen and '-ase' indicating an enzyme, so an oxidase is an enzyme that helps substances combine with oxygen.

Visually Confused Words