ProteasePronunciation/pro-tee-ays/CategoryPhysiologySingularProteasePluralProteasesDefinitionAn enzyme that degrades proteins.EtymologyFrom Greek 'proteios', meaning 'first' or 'primary', and '-ase', a suffix denoting an enzyme.ExampleProteases are essential for breaking down proteins in digestion.Related TermsEnzymesProteinsDigestion