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caffeine

or caf·fein

[ ka-feen, kaf-een, kaf-ee-in ]
/ kæˈfin, ˈkæf in, ˈkæf i ɪn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR caffeine

noun Chemistry, Pharmacology.

a white, crystalline, bitter alkaloid, C8H10N4O2, usually derived from coffee or tea: used in medicine chiefly as a nervous system stimulant.

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Origin of caffeine

1820–30; <French caféine, equivalent to cafécoffee + -ine-ine2

OTHER WORDS FROM caffeine

caf·fein·ic [ka-fee-nik, kaf-ee-in-ik], /kæˈfi nɪk, ˌkæf iˈɪn ɪk/, adjectivenon·caf·feine, nounnon·caf·fein·ic, adjective

Words nearby caffeine

cafeteria-style, cafetiere, cafetorium, caff, caffeinated, caffeine, caffeinism, caffè latte, caffè macchiato, Caffey's disease, Caffey's syndrome
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to caffeine

cappuccino, espresso, perk, mud, brew, java, decaf, decoction, mocha, demitasse, ink, café, café au lait, café noir, hot stuff, joe

Example sentences from the Web for caffeine

British Dictionary definitions for caffeine

caffeine

caffein

/ (ˈkæfiːn, ˈkæfɪˌiːn) /

noun

a white crystalline bitter alkaloid responsible for the stimulant action of tea, coffee, and cocoa: a constituent of many tonics and analgesics. Formula: C 8 H 10 N 4 O 2See also xanthine (def. 2)

Word Origin for caffeine

C19: from German Kaffein, from Kaffee coffee
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for caffeine

caffeine

n.

A bitter white alkaloid often derived from tea or coffee and used chiefly as a mild stimulant and in the treatment of certain kinds of headache.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for caffeine

caffeine
[ kă-fēn′ ]

A bitter white alkaloid found in tea leaves, coffee beans, and various other plant parts. It is a mild stimulant. Caffeine is a xanthine and similar in structure to theobromine and theophylline. Chemical formula: C8H10N4O2.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.