chitin noun. ['kʌɪtɪn] Also chitine. M19.
[French chitine, irreg. from Greek khitōn: see CHITON, -IN¹.]
An insoluble nitrogenous polysaccharide which is the main constituent of the exoskeleton of arthropods and also occurs in fungi.

■ chitini'zation noun conversion into chitin L19.

■ chitinize verb trans. convert into chitin (usu. in pass.) L19.

■ chitinoid adjective resembling chitin L19.

■ chitinous adjective of the nature of or consisting of chitin M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲