1. Membrane-bound organelles in eukaryotic cells that contain digestive enzymes and break down waste materials, dead cells, and foreign substances.
Usage: plural form; singular is lysosome; biology/cell biology term; commonly taught in high school and college biology

Examples

• Lysosomes are often called the cell's recycling centers because they break down and dispose of cellular waste.
• The enzymes inside lysosomes can digest bacteria that have been engulfed by white blood cells.
• Without properly functioning lysosomes, cells cannot efficiently remove damaged organelles.
• Lysosomes fuse with phagosomes to form digestive compartments within the cell.
• Scientists study lysosomes to understand how cells maintain themselves and prevent disease.
• The number and activity of lysosomes vary depending on the cell type and its metabolic needs.