[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/keratin/)

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# keratin

noun (keratin — uncountable)

«keratin» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Keratin is a tough protein that makes up hair, nails, claws, horns, hooves, feathers and the outer layer of skin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keratin/#m1)

### In the lessons

A science word in lessons about the body and animals: your hair and fingernails are made of keratin, and so are a rhino's horn and a bird's feathers. It explains why cutting hair and nails does not hurt — they are made of dead keratin cells. Phrases: made of keratin, keratin protein.

### Examples

- Your fingernails are made of keratin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keratin/#x1)
- A rhino's horn is made of keratin, just like hair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keratin/#x2)
- Feathers, claws and hooves all contain keratin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keratin/#x3)
- Cutting your hair doesn't hurt because it is dead keratin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keratin/#x4)
- Some shampoos say they contain keratin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keratin/#x5)
- The outer layer of our skin is tough because of keratin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keratin/#x6)

### Note

Uncountable. Say: KERR-a-tin. Myth: a rhino horn is not made of bone or ivory, and it has no magic medicine power — it is keratin like our nails, which is why poaching rhinos is so pointless and cruel.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «keratin» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keratin/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«keratin» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/keratin.html) on Mova free.