caffeine

or caf·fein

[ ka-feen, kaf-een, kaf-ee-in ]

/ kæˈfin, ˈkæf in, ˈkæf i ɪn /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR caffeine ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Chemistry, Pharmacology.

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

Words nearby caffeine

cafeteria-style, cafetiere, cafetorium, caff, caffeinated, caffeine, caffeinism, caffey's disease, caffey's syndrome, caffè latte, caffè macchiato

Origin of caffeine

1820–30; < French caféine, equivalent to café coffee + -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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for caffeine

The Pentagon security reviewers must have been suffering a dearth of caffeine or sleep.
‘They Don’t Call It SEAL Team 6-Year-Old for Nothing’: Commandos Clash Over Tell-All Book|Kimberly Dozier|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The story gets out that Obama skipped his usual afternoon dose of caffeine heading toward the U.N. meeting.
Obama, the Coffee Salute, and the Dementia on the Right|Sally Kohn|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This clean source of caffeine is the next noble, and healthy, substitute for your daily cup of coffee.
Bye Bye Latté, Hello Guayusa: Why The Amazon Holds the Secret to a Cleaner, Healthier Caffeine|Brandon Presser|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A “caffeine nap,” or a quick cup of something caffeinated followed by a nap, outperforms both a nap or caffeine independently.
13 Tips for the Best Nap Ever|DailyBurn|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Einöther authored the most comprehensive review of research on caffeine to date.
Forget 5-Hour Energy: Tea Is a Better Buzz|Gregory Ferenstein|July 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To reduce the quantity of caffeine contained in coffee has been the aim of many coffee producers.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
A few more sips and the caffeine and chemical cocktail begins to work, to give me a "rush" – or perhaps just a nudge.
Dreaming of Dreaming|Peter E. Williams
The first trial to combat or prevent this drowsiness was made with caffeine.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 492, June 6, 1885|Various
Caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine are not found in animal tissues, but are fairly widely distributed in plants.
The Chemistry of Plant Life|Roscoe Wilfred Thatcher
Caffeine is also useful in headache, neuralgia, and asthma and as a general tonic.
The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines|T. H. Pardo de Tavera

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.

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.

caffeine

or caf·fein

noun Chemistry, Pharmacology.

Words related to caffeine

Words nearby caffeine

Origin of caffeine

OTHER WORDS FROM caffeine

Example sentences from the Web for caffeine

British Dictionary definitions for caffeine

caffein

noun

Word Origin for caffeine

Medical definitions for caffeine

n.

Scientific definitions for caffeine