Casein Meaning
/ˈkeɪ.siːn/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA protein present in both milk and in the seeds of leguminous plants.
Sentence Examples
Casein is a protein found in milk.
The artist used casein paint for the mural.
Cheese production relies on the precipitation of casein from milk.
CEFR Practice Quiz
This cheese is rich in ____, a protein that helps strengthen bones and teeth.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
____ is a protein found in milk that is often used to make cheese.
Word Origin & History
From French caséine, formed from Latin cāseus (“cheese”) + -ine.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Since writing this report, we found that the intravenous injection of nucleoprotein, casein, and probably also other albuminous substances may produce small necroses of liver tissue in the guinea pig. This observation points to a possible danger in the use of casein solutions.""
— 1913 May 25, “COLLOIDAL COPPER'S VALUE IN CANCER CASES CONFIRMED; […]”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 23 Nov 2025:
"It’s the clumping nature of the caseins that makes possible most thickened milk products, from yogurt to cheese. The whey proteins play a more minor role; they influence the texture of casein curds, and stabilize the milk foams on specialty coffees."
— 2004, Harold McGee, chapter 1, in On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen, Scribner, →ISBN:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
This cheese is rich in ____, a protein that helps strengthen bones and teeth.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
____ is a protein found in milk that is often used to make cheese.