a proteolytic enzyme occurring in the unripe fruit of the papaya tree, Carica papaya: used as a meat tenderizer and in medicine as an aid to protein digestion
Word origin
C19: from papaya
papain in American English
(pəˈpeɪɪn; pəˈpaɪɪn)
noun
a protein-splitting enzyme from the juice of unripe papaya, used as a digestive aid, as a meat tenderizer, in pharmacy, etc.