What does lysis mean?
Lysis is a scientific term for the breaking open or dissolution of cells, usually when a cell membrane is damaged and the cell releases its contents. It can result from physical stress, chemical agents, immune responses, or viral infection, and the phrase “cell lysis” is common in biology and medicine. In more general technical writing, lysis can describe the disintegration of cells or tissues by a destructive process. The word is related to the verb “lyse,” meaning to cause cells to rupture or dissolve, and to derivatives such as “lysate” and “lysosome.” Because lysis is a specialized term rather than ordinary vocabulary, it is most often encountered in scientific, medical, or biochemical contexts. Its unusual history also makes it memorable: the word comes from Greek, where lysis referred to a loosening or untying.
nounThe breaking open or dissolution of a cell, especially the rupture of a cell membrane and release of its contents. In biology and medicine, the term also refers more broadly to the disintegration of cells or tissues by a chemical, physical, or biological process.
- The process of breaking open or dissolving a cell, especially through disruption of the cell membrane.
- The destruction or disintegration of cells or tissues by a chemical, physical, or biological agent.
"The treatment caused lysis of the tumour cells by disrupting their membranes."
"Rapid lysis of the red blood cells released haemoglobin into the surrounding fluid."
"The study examined how the virus triggers lysis of infected cells."
The plural is used when referring to multiple instances of cell or tissue breakdown.
"The researchers documented the lyses of infected cells under the microscope."
Lysis takes its name from the Greek word for “loosening”: a cell is held together until the membrane gives way and its contents spill out.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lysis come from?
The word comes from Greek lysis, meaning “a loosening,” from luein, “to loosen” or “to untie.” It entered English in the nineteenth century in scientific usage, especially in descriptions of chemical or biological processes. The same root underlies related forms such as “lyse,” “lysate,” “lysosome,” and “lytic,” all of which concern loosening, dissolution, or cell breakdown.
Related word forms
How lysis is actually used
This is chiefly a technical term used in biology, medicine, biochemistry, and related scientific contexts. It is not normally used as a general synonym for any kind of destruction.
Easily confused with lysis
This entry concerns the noun; the related verb 'lyse' means to cause cells or cell membranes to break open or dissolve.
Lysogeny is a stable state in which viral DNA is incorporated into a host cell's genome, whereas lysis is the destructive process of cell rupture.