What does haemolyse mean?
Haemolyse is a technical verb meaning to destroy red blood cells by causing their membranes to rupture and release haemoglobin. It can describe an action affecting the cells or, intransitively, the process occurring to them. The related noun is haemolysis, while the related adjective is haemolytic. Haemolysis is important in medicine and biology because it can occur in conditions involving infection, immune reactions, toxins, physical injury, or incompatible blood transfusion. The word is chiefly associated with scientific and clinical contexts and is uncommon in everyday speech. British English generally uses the spelling haemolyse, whereas American English commonly uses hemolyze. Despite its technical register, the word has a memorable literal image: red blood cells breaking open and releasing their contents. It is useful for describing the specific cellular event behind many medical and laboratory processes.
verbTo cause the rupture of red blood cells and the release of haemoglobin, either by acting on the cells or, intransitively, by undergoing this process.
- To cause the rupture of red blood cells and the release of haemoglobin, or to undergo this process.
"The toxin caused the red blood cells to haemolyse, releasing haemoglobin into the surrounding fluid."
"The toxin caused the red blood cells to haemolyse, releasing haemoglobin into the plasma."
"Under the microscope, the infected cells began to haemolyse as their membranes broke down."
Haemolyse names the dramatic moment when red blood cells burst and spill their haemoglobin into the surrounding fluid.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does haemolyse come from?
Haemolyse combines the Greek haima, meaning “blood,” with lysis, meaning “a loosening” or “dissolution.” The combination reflects the breakdown of blood cells and the release of their contents. Its related forms include haemolysis and haemolytic, with hemolysis and hemolytic serving as American spellings.
Related word forms
How haemolyse is actually used
This is a formal medical and biological term. British English generally uses “haemolyse,” while American English more commonly uses “hemolyze”; both forms are also used in technical writing.
Easily confused with haemolyse
Haemolyse is the verb describing the process, whereas haemolysis is the noun naming the destruction of red blood cells and release of haemoglobin.