nucleotide [noo -klee-uh -tahyd, nyoo -]
Word Origin
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. Show More
Origin of nucleotide First recorded in
1905–10; alteration of
nucleoside Related forms in·ter·nu·cle·o·tide , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for nucleotide biochem a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to phosphoric acid. Nucleic acids are made up of long chains (polynucleotides) of such compounds Show More
Word Origin for nucleotide C20: from nucleo- + t (added for ease of pronunciation) + -ide
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
Word Origin and History for nucleotide n. 1908, from German nucleotid (1908), from nucleo- , modern comb. form of Latin nucleus (see nucleus ) + -ide , with -t- for the sake of euphony.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
nucleotide [nōō′ klē-ə-tīd′]
Any of various compounds consisting of a nucleoside combined with a phosphate group and forming the basic constituent of DNA and RNA. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
nucleotide [nōō′ klē-ə-tīd′]
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. Show More
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
