tau
Americannoun
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the 19th letter of the Greek alphabet (T,τ ).
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the consonant sound represented by this letter.
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tav.
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Physics. Also tauon tau lepton.
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Also called tau protein. Biochemistry. a protein that is an important component of nerve cells, helping to maintain their function and structure: in the brain, distortions in the protein’s molecular shape is associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
noun
Etymology
Origin of tau
1250–1300; Middle English < Latin < Greek taû < Semitic; tav
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Amyloid and tau are often considered the primary players in Alzheimer's disease, but blood flow and oxygen delivery are also critical," said Amaryllis A. Tsiknia, lead author of the study and USC PhD candidate.
From Science Daily
Earlier research has shown that plasma p tau217 closely reflects the buildup of amyloid and tau in the brain, as seen on PET scans.
From Science Daily
At the International Working Group, a global consortium of neurologists and researchers, its criteria requires three things: the presence of amyloid; tau, another biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease; and cognitive symptoms.
But scientists have also linked Alzheimer's to many other factors, including tau proteins, lysosomes, chronic inflammation, immune cells called microglia, and additional biological processes.
From Science Daily
Their research shows that OTULIN, an enzyme known for regulating immune activity, also plays a major role in producing tau, a protein closely tied to Alzheimer's disease, other neurodegenerative disorders, brain inflammation, and aging.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
