albumen
/'ælbjumin/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- 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
- a simple water-soluble protein found in many animal tissues and liquids