What does dialyse mean?
Dialyse is a verb meaning to separate or purify a substance by dialysis — the passage of dissolved particles through a semipermeable membrane that allows some molecules through while holding others back. In everyday use the word appears almost exclusively in two settings. In chemistry and biochemistry laboratories, researchers dialyse solutions to strip away unwanted salts or small molecules, as when a protein preparation is dialysed overnight against fresh buffer. In medicine, to dialyse a patient means to perform artificial kidney treatment: when the kidneys fail, blood is circulated through a dialysis machine that removes waste products and excess fluid, keeping the patient alive. The verb is most common in British English, where it is spelled with an s; American usage favours "dialyze." It derives from the Greek "dialyein," meaning to dissolve or part asunder, sharing its root with "analysis" and "paralysis." Clinical in tone, the word carries no strong connotation beyond its technical sense, but it has become familiar to many through discussions of renal care.
To separate or purify a substance by passing it through a semipermeable membrane (dialysis).
"The chemist dialysed the solution for twelve hours to remove residual buffer salts."
Chiefly British spelling; US English uses "dialyze."
To treat a person's blood artificially by dialysis when the kidneys cannot adequately filter it themselves.
"He was dialysed three times a week while awaiting a transplant."
Almost always used passively in reference to patients.
The same Greek root that gives us 'analysis' — 'to loosen apart' — is what keeps kidney patients alive: every dialysis session literally unbinds waste from the blood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dialyse
Dialyse comes from the Greek "dialyein" — dia- ("through" or "apart") plus lyein ("to loosen, dissolve") — via the noun "dialysis," which entered English scientific vocabulary around the mid-nineteenth century. The verb was formed from this noun and spread with the development of membrane-separation techniques in chemistry and, later, clinical haemodialysis in the twentieth century. It shares its root with "analysis," "paralysis," and "electrolysis." The spelling with -s- is standard in Britain, while -z- prevails in the United States.
Related word forms
How dialyse is actually used
"Dialyse" is chiefly the British spelling; American English prefers "dialyze." The word belongs largely to medical and scientific registers and is rarely used in everyday conversation outside those contexts.
Easily confused with dialyse
Paralyse means to deprive of movement or feeling, while dialyse means to filter substances (or blood) through a semipermeable membrane.