Definition

1. Noun:
   • The white part of an egg: The clear, viscous substance surrounding the yolk of an egg, which turns white when cooked. It serves as a protective and nutritive layer.
   • A simple protein: A type of water-soluble protein found in many animal tissues and bodily fluids, as well as in some plant tissues.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to egg white:
  • The recipe calls for two egg albumens.
  • She carefully separated the albumen from the yolk.
• Referring to the protein:
  • Albumen is an important protein in blood plasma.
  • The scientist studied the properties of various albumens.

Advanced Usage

• In biological contexts: The term is often used to describe a class of simple, coagulable proteins (like serum albumin or ovalbumin) that are soluble in water and dilute salt solutions.
  • Ovalbumin is the primary albumen found in egg white.

Variants and Related Words

• Albumin (noun): The modern biochemical term for the class of proteins to which albumen belongs. Often used interchangeably with "albumen" in protein contexts, though "albumin" is more precise for the protein itself.
  • Human serum albumin is vital for maintaining blood pressure.

Synonyms

• Egg white (for the egg substance).
• Ovalbumin (specifically for the main protein in egg white).
• Serum albumin (specifically for the protein in blood).

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary, most common meaning is the white of an egg.
• The secondary, more technical meaning is a type of simple protein. In modern scientific usage, the protein is more accurately called albumin.

Noun

1. the white part of an egg; the nutritive and protective gelatinous substance surrounding the yolk consisting mainly of albumin dissolved in water
   • she separated the whites from the yolks of several eggs
2. a simple water-soluble protein found in many animal tissues and liquids