What does autolyze mean?
Autolyze is a technical verb meaning to undergo autolysis, the process in which an organism or tissue is broken down by its own enzymes. In its usual intransitive sense, it describes cells or tissue digesting themselves, often after injury or death and particularly under conditions that favor enzymatic activity. The less common transitive use means to cause material to undergo this breakdown, as laboratory protocols sometimes do with tissue samples. Autolyze belongs chiefly to biological, medical, biochemical, and forensic writing, rather than ordinary descriptions of food spoilage or general decay. Its American spelling with -yze corresponds to the usual British form autolyse. The word is worth knowing because it names a distinctly self-directed process: not merely the decay of biological material, but the breakdown of that material by enzymes contained within it. The related noun autolysis is often more familiar in scientific discussions of cell death, tissue preservation, and postmortem change.
verbTo undergo autolysis, the digestion or breakdown of tissue by its own enzymes. Less commonly, to cause something to undergo this process.
- To undergo autolysis, especially as a result of cell death or the action of the organism's own enzymes.
- To cause something to undergo autolysis by allowing or inducing its enzymatic self-digestion.
"In warm conditions, the dead tissue began to autolyze as cellular enzymes broke down its components."
"The dead cells began to autolyze as their enzymes dismantled the surrounding tissue."
"The protocol allowed the tissue to autolyze completely before the remaining material was extracted."
Autolyze turns a body's own enzymes into a microscopic cleanup crew—and, unchecked, a demolition crew.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does autolyze come from?
Autolyze belongs to modern scientific vocabulary combining the combining form auto-, from Greek autos meaning “self,” with lysis, from Greek luein meaning “to loosen” or “to dissolve.” The same elements produced the noun autolysis, denoting the dissolution or digestion of tissue by its own enzymes, and related forms such as autolytic and autolysin.
Related word forms
How autolyze is actually used
Autolyze is primarily a technical term in biology, pathology, medicine, and biochemistry. Its usual use is intransitive, while the causative transitive sense is less common. The form with -yze is American; British English generally uses autolyse.
Easily confused with autolyze
Autolysis is the noun naming the self-digestion process, whereas autolyze is the verb describing an organism or tissue undergoing it.
Autolyse is the standard British spelling of the American variant autolyze, and both forms have the same meaning.