Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
lignin
This term carries a technical, scientific weight, primarily appearing in botany, chemistry, and industrial manufacturing. It evokes the image of a biological glue that binds cellulose fibers together, creating the hardness and stiffness of a tree trunk.
In industrial contexts, the word often appears in discussions about biofuels or paper pulping, where it is viewed as a stubborn barrier that must be chemically removed to access the sugars or fibers within the plant cell wall.
Used exclusively to describe the chemical substance itself, similar to how one refers to gold or oxygen.
Meanings
Examples
This plant has lignin.
Lignin makes wood hard.
Lignin is in trees.
The cells contain a lot of lignin.
Lignin helps the plant stand up.
We studied lignin in the lab.
The teacher explained how lignin supports the stem.
Some fungi can break down lignin in nature.
Lignin prevents water from leaking out of vessels.
The company is developing a way to utilize lignin.
Ancient forests relied on lignin for their massive height.
Removing lignin is essential for high quality paper production.