nucleotide

American  

[noo-klee-uh-tahyd, nyoo-] / ˈnu kli əˌtaɪd, ˈnju- /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of a group of molecules that, when linked together, form the building blocks of DNA or RNA: composed of a phosphate group, the bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine, and a pentose sugar, in RNA the thymine base being replaced by uracil.

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nucleotide British  

/ ˈnjuːklɪəˌtaɪd /

noun

1. biochem a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to phosphoric acid. Nucleic acids are made up of long chains (polynucleotides) of such compounds

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nucleotide Scientific  

/ no̅o̅′klē-ə-tīd′ /

1. Any of a group of organic compounds composed of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group. Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of nucleic acids.

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Other Word Forms

• internucleotide
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nucleotide

First recorded in 1905–10; alteration of nucleoside

Compare meaning

How does nucleotide compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• nucleoside vs. nucleotide

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nucleotide

Before the next nucleotide can be attached, that blocking group must be removed through a process called deprotection, which is triggered by acidic conditions, or low pH, in water.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026

This enables the essential information defining an organism’s core features—represented in the nucleotide sequences of DNA—to be passed down to its offspring.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025

The researchers didn’t attempt to redesign the genome one nucleotide at a time.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 8, 2023

Additionally, the analysis of nucleotide sequences revealed that three out of the five strains were genetically distinct from M. minuta.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2023

In August’s case, the doctors were able to identify one of the “single nucleotide deletion mutations” that made war on his face.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio