Amyloclastic

/ˌæmɪloʊˈklæstɪk/ adjective

Definition

Capable of breaking down or decomposing starch into simpler sugars.

Etymology

From amylo- (starch) plus -clastic (from Greek klastos, meaning 'broken' or 'fragmented'). The -clastic suffix appears in osteoclastic (bone-breaking) and pyroclastic (fire-breaking).

Kelly Says

The -clastic suffix comes from the Greek word for 'broken' and appears in geological terms like pyroclastic (volcanic explosions) and archaeological terms—it's the root of 'iconoclast,' literally someone who breaks icons!

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