Lysosome is a membrane-bound cell organelle containing enzymes that digest and recycle cellular waste. It participates in intracellular digestion, breaking down macromolecules, damaged organelles, and invading pathogens. In eukaryotic cells, lysosomes maintain cellular homeostasis by regulated hydrolysis and turnover of biomolecules, contributing to the cell’s overall metabolic activity.
"During autophagy, lysosomes fuse with autophagosomes to degrade worn-out organelles."
"Lysosomes release digestive enzymes into vesicles to break down macromolecules."
"Defective lysosomal enzymes can lead to storage diseases such as Tay-Sachs."
"Researchers study lysosome function to understand aging and neurodegenerative disorders."
Lysosome derives from the Greek lysis meaning dissolution or loosening, and soma meaning body. The term was coined in the 1950s as biologists discovered lysosomes as membrane-bound vesicles with digestive enzymes. The root lysis (from lysos) signals dissolution, while soma denotes a body or vessel. Early electron microscopy revealed lysosomes as distinct organelles within animal cells, enabling a new understanding of intracellular digestion. Over time, the term expanded to characterize related acidic compartments in various cell types, and with advances in molecular biology, lysosomes are now known to host numerous hydrolases, acid hydrolases, and membrane transporters. First known use in scientific literature appears in mid-20th century cytology; by the 1960s, lysosomes were widely recognized as essential cellular components rather than mere waste vacuoles. The etymology encapsulates their functional essence: a “body” that dissolves or breaks down material.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Lysosome" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Lysosome"
-ize sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈlaɪ.səˌsoʊm/ (US) or /ˈlaɪ.səˌsəʊm/ (UK/AU). Stress pattern is primary on the first syllable LY-, with a secondary stress on -so-, yielding LY-so-some. Start with a light, quick 'ly' like lie, then a neutral 'sə' and finish with 'soam' as in 'sohm' but longer. Listen for the two-tension transition between the middle and final syllables.
Common errors include misplacing stress (placing too much emphasis on -so- or -ome), and mispronouncing the middle 's' as a hard 'z' or 'z' sound. Also some learners blend Lys- and -osome into a single syllable. Correct by clearly dividing into LY- (diphthong /aɪ/), sə (schwa), and -səʊm /soʊm/ with a crisp consonant boundary.
In US, UK, and AU, the vowel in 'ly' is the same /aɪ/; differences arise in final syllable: US tends to /soʊm/ with a tight /oʊ/, UK/AU may realize /səʊm/ with a more rounded and longer /əʊ/; rhoticity does not strongly affect this word, but linked-phoneme tempo and vowel reduction in rapid speech can shift the middle /sə/ toward a lighter /sɪ/ in some contexts.
The difficulty lies in the tri-syllabic rhythm and the consonant cluster transition between /ˈlaɪ/ and /ˌsoʊm/, plus the mid syllable schwa often reduced in rapid speech. Learners may misplace stress or merge the middle and final syllables. Focus on clearly separating LY- and -so-, maintain a stable IT boundary, and practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the 3-syllable pattern.
Note the initial diphthong /aɪ/ in LY-, the mid syllable /sə/ that often reduces, and the final /soʊm/ or /səʊm/. The tertiary stress pattern is rare but present in careful enunciation. Pay attention to the 's' transitions: after LY, ensure a crisp /s/ rather than a voiced /z/ and keep the final /m/ clear without nasal coalescence.
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