# cathepsin

> English word · Noun · IPA /kəˈθɛpsɪn/

## Definitions
1. Any of a family of proteases primarily active within lysosomes.

## Etymology
Borrowed from German Kathepsin, from Ancient Greek καθέψω (kathépsō), from κατά (katá, “down”) + ἕψω (hépsō, “boil”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cathepsin