Definition of: diastase

(dī′ə·stās) noun Biochem.
A white, amorphous enzyme that converts starch and glycogen into dextrin and sugar (chiefly maltose): found in germinating grain and in various parts of plants and in animal fluids, as saliva, pancreatic juice, etc.; an amylase. [<F <Gk. diastasis a separation <dia- apart + histanai set, cause to stand]
—di′a·sta′sic, di′a·stat′ic (-stat′ik) adjective