Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “actin” come from?

Actin is a back-formation from actine, which derives from Ancient Greek ἀκτίς meaning ray or beam.

actin (English): A globular structural protein that polymerizes in...

Definitions

  1. A globular structural protein that polymerizes in...

Ancestry of “actin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekἀκτίςray, beam; brightness, splendor; spoke

Words derived from “actin”

  • actinin
  • antiactin
  • actinofibril
Every word from Ancient Greek ἀκτίς →