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nucleotide
[ noo-klee-uh-tahyd, nyoo- ]
/ ˈnu kli əˌtaɪd, ˈnyu- /
See the most commonly confused word associated with nucleoside
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noun Biochemistry.
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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Origin of nucleotide
First recorded in 1905–10; alteration of nucleoside
OTHER WORDS FROM nucleotide
in·ter·nu·cle·o·tide, adjectiveWords nearby nucleotide
nucleosidase, nucleoside, nucleoside analogue, nucleosome, nucleosynthesis, nucleotide, nucleotides, nucleus, nuclide, nuddy, nude
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use nucleotide in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for nucleotide
nucleotide
/ (ˈnjuːklɪəˌtaɪd) /
noun
biochem a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to phosphoric acid. Nucleic acids are made up of long chains (polynucleotides) of such compounds
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
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Scientific definitions for nucleotide
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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