▪ I. mucoid, n. Biochem.
(ˈmjuːkɔɪd)
[a. G. mucoid, f. mucin mucin + -oid -oid.]
A mucin-like substance; esp. = mucoprotein s.v. muco-.
| 1900 Gies & Cutter in Amer. Jrnl. Physiol. III. p. vi, We believe that continued investigation will show that the differences among the mucins, mucoids, and chondroproteids are not as great as their varying physical properties and behavior have suggested. 1901 Ibid. VI. 155 (heading) The composition of tendon mucoid. Ibid., Following Cohnheim's suggestion..we use the term ‘mucoid’, instead of the previously accepted ‘mucin’, to designate this substance. We agree with Cohnheim that..the term ‘mucin’ may be best applied to the glucoproteids elaborated by true secretory cells, and the term ‘mucoid’ to similar substances in the tissues. 1945 Adv. Protein Chem. II. 250 As mucoids we define substances which contain a mucopolysaccharide in firm chemical union with a peptide, where the hexosamine content is greater than 4 per cent. 1953 [see mucolytic adj. s.v. muco-]. 1964 A. White et al. Princ. Biochem. (ed. 3) viii. 122 The protein components of mucoids or mucoproteins are combined with large amounts (more than 4 per cent) of carbohydrate, measured as hexosamine. 1967 D. A. L. Davies in D. M. Weir Handbk. Exper. Immunol. xi. 405 Ovarian cysts are a rich source of mucoids and a classical source of blood-group mucopolysaccharides. 1974 Nature 20 Dec. 711/2 Cervical mucus is a heterogeneous secretion, the most important constituent of which is a hydrogel made of glycoproteic mucoids. |
▪ II. mucoid, a.
(ˈmjuːkɔɪd)
[f. muc-us + -oid.]
Resembling mucus. mucoid degeneration: see quot. 1866.
| 1849 Rep. & Papers Botany (Ray Soc.) 312 Identity of the Mucoid and Filamentous Confervæ. By Dr. Schaffner. 1866 A. Flint Princ. Med. (1880) 57 Mucoid degeneration consists in the transformation of the albuminous constituents of cells or of intercellular substance into mucin. 1878 Tidy Handbk. Mod. Chem. 585 Lævulose (..Mucoid Sugar). 1885 Lancet 26 Sept. 562 The cough..was accompanied with frothy mucoid expectoration. |
Hence muˈcoidal a. in the same sense.
| 1849 H. Miller Footpr. Creat. viii. (1874) 147 Those thinner parts of the fin that are traversed by the caudal rays,—wholly mucoidal, as shown by this test. |