lignin
noun
lig·nin ˈlig-nən 
: an amorphous polymer related to cellulose that provides rigidity and together with cellulose forms the woody cell walls of plants and the cementing material between them
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Recent breakthroughs in producing plastics from cellulose or lignin (the dry matter in plants) promise to overcome those drawbacks. 
Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2019 Furthermore, wood chips are high in lignins and other hard-to-digest compounds, and the decomposition process will be very slow. oregonlive, 12 Apr. 2020 Leaf litter from trees attacked by lace bugs is higher in lignin, a type of fiber that decomposes very slowly. Ula Chrobak, Popular Science, 9 Mar. 2020 These days lignin has become cost-effective for 3D printing or adhesives, and it can be plasticized or used to reinforce other bioplastics. Troy Farah, Ars Technica, 20 Jan. 2020 Lignin Wurm says one of the most promising bioplastic candidates is lignin, a blackish biodegradable byproduct of paper manufacturing. Troy Farah, Ars Technica, 20 Jan. 2020 The third is to find employment for lignin, a by-product of the pulping process which is, at the moment, usually burned. The Economist, 17 Oct. 2019 During the Devonian, plants hit on several winning adaptations, including the stem-strengthening compound lignin and a full-fledged vascular structure. Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 30 Sep. 2019 To investigate further, researchers from Austria and Germany isolated individual walnut shell cells by soaking them in a solution designed to remove lignin, the complex organic polymer that makes plant cell walls sturdy. Ian Randall, Science | AAAS, 3 Sep. 2019 See More
Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2019 Furthermore, wood chips are high in lignins and other hard-to-digest compounds, and the decomposition process will be very slow. oregonlive, 12 Apr. 2020 Leaf litter from trees attacked by lace bugs is higher in lignin, a type of fiber that decomposes very slowly. Ula Chrobak, Popular Science, 9 Mar. 2020 These days lignin has become cost-effective for 3D printing or adhesives, and it can be plasticized or used to reinforce other bioplastics. Troy Farah, Ars Technica, 20 Jan. 2020 Lignin Wurm says one of the most promising bioplastic candidates is lignin, a blackish biodegradable byproduct of paper manufacturing. Troy Farah, Ars Technica, 20 Jan. 2020 The third is to find employment for lignin, a by-product of the pulping process which is, at the moment, usually burned. The Economist, 17 Oct. 2019 During the Devonian, plants hit on several winning adaptations, including the stem-strengthening compound lignin and a full-fledged vascular structure. Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 30 Sep. 2019 To investigate further, researchers from Austria and Germany isolated individual walnut shell cells by soaking them in a solution designed to remove lignin, the complex organic polymer that makes plant cell walls sturdy. Ian Randall, Science | AAAS, 3 Sep. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
1822, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
lignin
noun
lig·nin ˈlig-nən
: an amorphous polymeric substance related to cellulose that together with cellulose forms the woody cell walls of plants and the cementing material between them