chitin
chitin
Noun
This substance provides structural rigidity and protection, acting as the biological equivalent of a hard shell or armor for insects, crustaceans, and certain fungi. It is characterized by its durability and resistance to degradation. As a chemical compound, it is an uncountable mass noun. It does not have a plural form in standard scientific or general usage, as it refers to the material itself rather than individual units.
Meanings
Nounchitin
A tough, protective polysaccharide that forms the exoskeleton of arthropods and the cell walls of fungi.
"The beetle's hard outer shell is primarily composed of chitin."