nucleotide

American  

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

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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

DNA and RNA consist of chains of smaller units known as nucleotides, while proteins are built from amino acids.

From Science Daily

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

Amino acids, which make up proteins, or nucleotides, which make up DNA and RNA, are the same way.

From Salon

Normally, uridine nucleotides would be made and consumed to help make the genetic letter codes and fuel cell metabolism.

From Science Daily

One way to capture eRNA is to add a nucleotide to cells that halts transcription when incorporated into RNA.

From Science Daily