Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

glycine

American  
[glahy-seen, glahy-seen] / ˈglaɪ sin, glaɪˈsin /

noun

Biochemistry.
  1. a colorless, crystalline, sweet, water-soluble solid, H 2 NCH 2 COOH, the simplest amino acid: used chiefly in organic synthesis and biochemical research. Gly; G


glycine British  
/ ɡlaɪˈsiːn, ˈɡlaɪsiːn /

noun

  1. a nonessential amino acid occurring in most proteins that acts as a neurotransmitter; aminoacetic acid

"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

glycine Scientific  
/ glīsēn′,-sĭn /
  1. A nonessential amino acid. Glycine is the simplest amino acid. Chemical formula: C 2 H 5 NO 2 .

  2. See more at amino acid


Etymology

Origin of glycine

First recorded in 1850–55; glyc- + -ine 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"Here at Penn State, we have modified instrumentation that allows us to make isotopic measurements on really low abundances of organic compounds like glycine," Baczynski said.

From Science Daily Feb. 12, 2026

To test this process, the researchers placed glycine inside the chamber and exposed it to simulated cosmic rays using an ion accelerator at HUN-REN Atomki.

From Science Daily Jan. 21, 2026

Katie decided to try magnesium glycinate - a combination of magnesium and glycine, an amino acid with limited evidence linking it to better sleep.

From BBC Oct. 24, 2025

As hypertensive pulmonary blood vessels metabolize glutamine and serine, they create two new amino acids, called proline and glycine.

From Science Daily May 2, 2024

The glycine clambered up the umbrella-shaped pines, and the wind blowing over the city brought the scent of the roses of the Palatine.

From Jean-Christophe Journey's End by Cannan, Gilbert

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training