Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

chitin

/ˈkaɪtɪn/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.24 in modern English

Syllables: chi-tin
IPA: /ˈkaɪtɪn/

11

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A complex polysaccharide, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and in the cell walls of fungi; thought to be responsible for some forms of asthma in humans.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Chitin usually occurs throughout Invertebrates in the form of an investment to the outermost cellular layer or ectoderm."
"The robot’s energy source is the sugar in the polysaccharide called chitin that makes up a fly’s exoskeleton."

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek χῐτών (khĭtṓn)der. Latin chitōnder. French chitinebor. English chitin From French chitine, from Latin chitōn (“mollusk”), from Ancient Greek χιτών (khitṓn). See also chiton.

Origin

Source language: French

Word Breakdown

Root: chitine, chitōn, χιτών

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈkaɪtɪn/
British English: /ˈkʌɪtɪn/

Usage

Inflected Forms

chitins (plural)

Derived Forms

chitinaceous chitinase chitinization chitinize chitinless chitinlike chitinoid chitinolysis chitinous lipochitin polychitin pseudochitin

Synonyms

entomolin

Rhymes With

titan titin

Questions

How do you pronounce chitin?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkaɪtɪn/.
What does chitin mean?: A complex polysaccharide, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and in the cell walls of fungi; thought to be responsible for some forms of asthma in humans.
Where does chitin come from?: It is traced to French.

How to pronounce chitin

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