‖ lysis
(ˈlaɪsɪs)
[L. lysis, Gr. λύσις a loosening.]
1. Arch. ‘A plinth or step above the cornice of the podium of ancient temples, which surrounded or embraced the stylobate’ (Gwilt Archit. 1842).
| 1847 J. Leitch tr. C.O. Müller's Anc. Art §280. 270 The lysis above the corona of a short pillar, of which there is mention made twice, was probably a small echinus. |
2. Path. ‘An insensible or gradual solution or termination of a disease or disorder without apparent phenomena’ (
Syd. Soc. Lex. 1889). Opposed to
crisis 1.
| 1822–34 Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 590 If it [the matter of the disease] be carried off at different times, it is a lysis, or resolution. 1877 Roberts Handbk. Med. (ed. 3) I. 115 In short a combination of crisis and lysis is observed. |
| attrib. 1897 Trans. Amer. Pediatric Soc. IX. 146 The lysis cases showed physical signs..later than the crisis cases. |
3. Biol. [
perh. derived from the suffix
-lysis in
bacteriolysis,
hæmolysis (see
lysis 2).] The disintegration or dissolution of cells or cell organelles;
esp. the dissolution of bacterial cells brought about by bacteriophage.
| 1902 Jrnl. Exper. Med. 17 Mar. 4 That complete agglutination has no effect upon subsequent solution (lysis) of the corpuscles will be shown when treating of the latter phenomenon. 1922 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 19 Aug. 296/2 The Twort phenomenon and the d'Herelle phenomenon are identical. They are two different aspects of..the transmissible lysis of bacteria. 1922 Brit. Jrnl. Exper. Path. III. 258 The lysis takes place with dead as well as with living bacteria. 1937 Jrnl. Immunol. XXXII. 1 (heading) A natural hemolysin from the rat producing nuclear lysis of chicken erythrocytes. 1940 Jrnl. Gen. Physiol. XXIII. 643 (title) The growth of bacteriophage and lysis of the host. 1970 Nature 11 July 138/1 Certain antibiotics can cause physical disintegration or ‘lysis’ of cells when added to growing cultures of sensitive bacteria. |