| active transport n. The movement of a chemical substance through a gradient of concentration or electrical potential in the direction opposite to normal diffusion, requiring the expenditure of energy: active transport across a cell membrane. |
active transport
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biochemistry) Biochem Physiol a process by which molecules are enabled to pass across a membrane from a region in which they are in a low concentration to one of high concentration; this requires the expenditure of energy in metabolism and is assisted by carrier proteins, commonly referred to as pumps
| active transport The movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane in the direction opposite that of diffusion, that is, from an area of lower concentration to one of higher concentration. Active transport requires the assistance of a type of protein called a carrier protein, using energy supplied by ATP. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  active transport - transport of a substance (as a protein or drug) across a cell membrane against the concentration gradient; requires an expenditure of energydrug - a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic transport - an exchange of molecules (and their kinetic energy and momentum) across the boundary between adjacent layers of a fluid or across cell membranes |
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