The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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]