Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A tough, protective, semitransparent substance, primarily a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide, forming the principal component of arthropod exoskeletons and the cell walls of certain fungi.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The name given by Odier to the organic substance which forms the elytra and integuments of insects and the carapaces of Crustacea, and which may be obtained by exhausting the wing-cases of May-beetles or June-bugs with water, alcohol, ether, acetic acid, and boiling alkalis.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Chem.) A white amorphous horny substance forming the harder part of the outer integument of insects, crustacea, and various other invertebrates; entomolin.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biochemistry A complex polysaccharide, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and in the cell walls of fungi; thought to be responsible for some forms of asthma in humans.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a tough semitransparent horny substance; the principal component of the exoskeletons of arthropods and the cell walls of certain fungi

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French chitine : New Latin chitōn, mollusk (from Greek khitōn, chiton; see chiton) + –ine.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French chitine, from Latin chitōn ("mollusk"). See also chiton.

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Examples

  • Her chitin was the color of raw amethyst, the glow of her great golden compound eyes was significantly dimmed, and her antennae hung forward in limp arcs.

    Diuturnity's Dawn Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 2002

  • Her chitin was the color of raw amethyst, the glow of her great golden compound eyes was significantly dimmed, and her antennae hung forward in limp arcs.

    Diuturnity's Dawn Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 2002

  • Their chitin was a rich maroon color, black under - neath and marked by thick black vertical stripes across the vestigial wing cases.

    The Moment of the Magician Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 1984

  • Their chitin was a rich maroon color, black under - neath and marked by thick black vertical stripes across the vestigial wing cases.

    The Moment Of The Magician Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 1984

  • Their chitin was a rich maroon color, black under - neath and marked by thick black vertical stripes across the vestigial wing cases.

    The Moment Of The Magician Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 1984

  • Their chitin was a rich maroon color, black under - neath and marked by thick black vertical stripes across the vestigial wing cases.

    The Moment of the Magician Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 1984

  • If the gene, called chitin synthase, could be completely silenced, the mosquitoes may die without the use of pesticides because the chitin biosynthesis pathway would be blocked, Zhu said.

    Newswise: Latest News 2010

  • If the gene, called chitin synthase, could be completely silenced, the mosquitoes may die without the use of pesticides because the chitin biosynthesis pathway would be blocked, Zhu said.

    Newswise: Latest News 2010

  • The bags are treated with an antimicrobial product made with chitin, which is derived from crab shells and helps fight mold, mildew, fungus and harmful bacteria such as E. coli.

    The News Tribune - Tacoma - - HOMEPAGE newstips@thenewstribune.com (MIKE STOBBE; The Asso 2010

  • If the gene, called chitin synthase, could be completely silenced, the mosquitoes may die without the use of pesticides because the chitin biosynthesis pathway would be blocked, Zhu said.

    Newswise: Latest News 2010

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  • Crack! oops, sorry little guy

    December 13, 2007