: an amorphous polymer related to cellulose that provides rigidity and together with cellulose forms the woody cell walls of plants and the cementing material between them
Examples of lignin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To solve the mystery, researchers dissected shipworms and analyzed their stomachs and intestines, neither of which are thought to excrete enzymes capable of destroying the lignin — the substance that forms the toughest part of wood.
—
Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, 16 June 2024
Some of those found at Clarkia include lignin, which is the structural support tissue of plants, lipids like fats and waxes, and possibly DNA and amino acids.
—Robert Patalano, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
This weight loss occurred because the fungi broke down the lignin and cellulose into products that included carbon dioxide.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2023
The team wanted to compare the plastic-eating abilities of the fungal species and determine each species’ production of an enzyme that breaks apart lignin.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2023
After bleaching lignin’s color away or otherwise removing it, a milky-white skeleton of hollow cells remains.
—Jude Coleman, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023
The toasting process breaks down starch and other polymers, called lignins and tannins, in the oak.
—Michael W. Crowder, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2023
An analysis of the tree’s wooden composition after six months revealed less lignin in the trees.
—Popular Science, 13 July 2023
Of the 60,000 species, the team chose balsa wood for its strength, even when one of the components of its structure—lignin—was largely removed to make more room for conducting materials.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Apr. 2023
Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, 16 June 2024
Some of those found at Clarkia include lignin, which is the structural support tissue of plants, lipids like fats and waxes, and possibly DNA and amino acids.
—Robert Patalano, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
This weight loss occurred because the fungi broke down the lignin and cellulose into products that included carbon dioxide.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2023
The team wanted to compare the plastic-eating abilities of the fungal species and determine each species’ production of an enzyme that breaks apart lignin.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2023
After bleaching lignin’s color away or otherwise removing it, a milky-white skeleton of hollow cells remains.
—Jude Coleman, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023
The toasting process breaks down starch and other polymers, called lignins and tannins, in the oak.
—Michael W. Crowder, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2023
An analysis of the tree’s wooden composition after six months revealed less lignin in the trees.
—Popular Science, 13 July 2023
Of the 60,000 species, the team chose balsa wood for its strength, even when one of the components of its structure—lignin—was largely removed to make more room for conducting materials.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lignin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lignin
Cite this Entry
“Lignin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lignin. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lignin
noun
lig·nin
ˈlig-nən 
: a substance related to cellulose that occurs in the woody cell walls of plants and in the cementing material between them
Medical Definition
lignin
noun
lig·nin
ˈlig-nən
: an amorphous polymeric substance related to cellulose that together with cellulose forms the woody cell walls of plants and the cementing material between them
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share