A chemical reaction that uses water to break down a compound.
Biology Dictionary
Definition:
A chemical reaction in which water is used to break down a compound; this is achieved by breaking a covalent bond in the compound by inserting a water molecule across the bond. The opposite of this is a dehydration-condensation reaction.
Glossary
Definition:
A reaction in which a molecule of water is added at the site of cleavage of a molecule to two products.