Hemolyzing

/ˈhiː.məˌlaɪ.zɪŋ/ verb

Definition

Present participle of hemolyze; the ongoing process of red blood cells rupturing and releasing hemoglobin.

Etymology

From 'hemo-' (blood) + Greek 'lysis' (breaking) + present participle suffix '-ing'. This form became standard in medical literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as hemolysis became a key concept in understanding anemia and transfusion reactions.

Kelly Says

Watching cells hemolyzed under a microscope is mesmerizing—they slowly swell and burst like tiny water balloons, and watching time-lapse videos of hemolyzing cells helped scientists understand what happens during severe infections or poisonings.

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