Standard Lemma guide

methylation

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌmɛθɪˈleɪʃən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪʃən

1

noun

Meaning 1

The addition of a methyl group to a molecule.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The addition of a methyl group to cytosine and adenine residues in DNA that leads to the epigenetic modification of DNA and the reduction of gene expression and protein production.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: biology, genetics, medicine, natural-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *médhu Proto-Hellenic *méthu Ancient Greek μέθυ (méthu) Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)der. German -yl German Methylbor. English methyl Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English methylation From methyl + -ation.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: metilació — addition of a methyl group
  • Chinese Mandarin: 甲基化 (jiǎjīhuà) — addition of a methyl group
  • Finnish: metylaatio — addition of a methyl group
  • French: méthylation — addition of a methyl group
  • Georgian: მეთილირება (metilireba) — addition of a methyl group
  • German: Methylierung — addition of a methyl group
  • Hebrew: מתילציה — addition of a methyl group
  • Indonesian: metilasi — addition of a methyl group
  • Italian: metilazione — addition of a methyl group
  • Japanese: メチル化 (mechiruka) — addition of a methyl group
  • Kazakh: метилдеу (metildeu) — addition of a methyl group
  • Korean: 메틸화 (metilhwa) — addition of a methyl group
  • Malay: pemetilan — addition of a methyl group
  • Polish: metylacja — addition of a methyl group
  • Portuguese: metilação — addition of a methyl group
  • Russian: метилирование (metilirovanije) — addition of a methyl group
  • Spanish: metilación — addition of a methyl group
  • Urdu: میثائلیت — addition of a methyl group
Real reading context

methylation in complete knowledge articles