Standard Lemma guide

transferrin

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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  • General-American: /tɹænzˈfɛɹɪn/
  • rhymes with -ɛɹɪn

1

noun

Meaning 1

A glycoprotein, a beta-globulin, in blood serum that combines with and transports iron.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: glycoprotein, protein

2

noun

Meaning 2

a globulin in blood plasma that carries iron

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: beta globulin, siderophilin

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: globulin

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *terh2-der. Proto-Indo-European *térh2t Proto-Indo-European *-ónts Proto-Indo-European *tr̥h2ónts Proto-Indo-European *tr̥h2n̥ts Proto-Italic *trāns Proto-Italic *trāns- Latin trans-bor. English trans- English ferr- Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnusder. Old French -inbor. Middle English -in English -ineclip. English -in English transferrin From trans- + ferr- + -in.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Transferrin — glycoprotein
  • Italian: transferrina — glycoprotein