Disintegration of cells.
Greek lusis, loosening.
A lysosome is an organelle in cells containing enzymes that digest substances in the cell; a lysozyme is an enzyme which catalyses the destruction of the cell walls of certain bacteria, and occurs notably in tears and egg white; lysis is the disintegration of a cell by rupture of the cell wall or membrane; lysin is an antibody, bacterium or other substance able to cause this.
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