Hydrolase \Hy"dro*lase\, n. [Hydrolysis + -ase.]
   1. (Chem.) an enzyme which causes the splitting of a chemical
      bond with the addition of the elements of water; a
      hydrolytic enzyme. Formerly called a hydrolytic ferment.

   Note: There are many known hydrolases, including nearly all
         of the digestive enzymes. Among the hydrolases are the
         esterases, which split ester bonds and amidases,
         which split amide bonds, and among the latter are the
         proteases and peptidases, which split peptide
         bonds, such as those found in proteins.
         [PJC]