Lysis

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Lysis \Ly"sis\ (l[imac]"s[i^]s), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ly`sis.]
     (Med.)
     The resolution or favorable termination of a disease, coming
     on gradually and not marked by abrupt change.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     Note: It is usually contrasted with crisis, in which the
           improvement is sudden and marked; as, pneumonia ends by
           crisis, typhoid fever by lysis.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  lysis
       n 1: recuperation in which the symptoms of an acute disease
            gradually subside
       2: (biochemistry) dissolution or destruction of cells such as
          blood cells or bacteria
       [also: {lyses} (pl)]