1. to cause the breakdown or destruction of cells through the dissolution of their membranes
Usage: scientific; biology

Examples

• The detergent will lyse the cell membranes in the laboratory sample.
• Researchers used enzymes to lyse the bacterial cells.
• The hypotonic solution caused the red blood cells to lyse.
• Scientists must carefully control conditions when they lyse cells for analysis.
• The experiment required them to lyse the tissue samples before extraction.
• Osmotic pressure can lyse cells if the concentration gradient is too steep.