Dī'as-tāse, n.

n. [Gr. διάστασις, from διαστῆναι, διϊστάναι, to stand apart, divide, from διά, for διά, through, asunder, and στῆναι, ἱστάναι, to stand, set; Fr. diastase.] (Chem.) A substance, containing nitrogen, generated during the germination of grain for the brewery, and tending to accelerate the formation of sugar during fermentation.