Lysis (/ ˈ l aɪ s ɪ s / LY-sis; Greek λύσις lýsis, a loosing from λύειν lýein, to unbind) refers to the breaking down of the membrane of a cell, often by viral, enzymic, or osmotic (that is, lytic / ˈ l ɪ t ɪ k / LIT-ək) mechanisms that compromise its integrity.