purine

pu·rine

 (pyo͝or′ēn′)

n.

1. A double-ringed, crystalline organic base, C₅H₄N₄, that is the parent compound of a large group of biologically important compounds.

2. Any of a group of substituted derivatives of purine, including the nitrogen bases adenine and guanine, which are components of nucleic acids. Uric acid, caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline are also purines.

---

[German Purin : blend of Latin pūrus, clean; see pure, and New Latin ūricus, uric (from Greek ouron, urine) + -in, -in, -ine.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

purine

(ˈpjʊəriːn) or

purin

n

1. (Elements & Compounds) a colourless crystalline solid that can be prepared from uric acid. Formula: C5H4N4

2. (Elements & Compounds) Also called: purine base any of a number of nitrogenous bases, such as guanine and adenine, that are derivatives of purine and constituents of nucleic acids and certain coenzymes

[C19: from German Purin; see pure, uric, -ine²]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pu•rine

(ˈpyʊər in, -ɪn)

n.

1. a white, crystalline compound, C₅H₄N₄, from which is derived a group of compounds including uric acid, xanthine, and caffeine.

2. one of several purine derivatives, esp. the bases adenine and guanine, which are fundamental constituents of nucleic acids.

[1895–1900; < German Purin. See pure, uric, -ine²]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

pu·rine

(pyo͝or′ēn′)

Any of a group of organic compounds containing two rings of alternating carbon and nitrogen atoms. Purines include caffeine and uric acid, as well as the two bases adenine and guanine, which are components of DNA and RNA.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	purine - any of several bases that are derivatives of purine alkali, base - any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water; "bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia" adenine, A - (biochemistry) purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA guanine, G - a purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with cytosine
	2.	purine - a colorless crystalline organic base containing nitrogen; the parent compound of various biologically important substances alkali, base - any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water; "bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

purine

purine

n purina

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.