ribonucleic acid

American

[rahy-boh-noo-klee-ik as-id, -klay-, -nyoo-, rahy-] / ˈraɪ boʊ nuˈkli ɪk ˈæs ɪd, -ˈkleɪ-, -nju-, ˌraɪ- /

Sometimes ribose nucleic acid

noun

Biochemistry.

RNA.

ribonucleic acid British

/ ˌraɪbəʊnjuːˈkliːɪk, -ˈkleɪ- /

noun

the full name of RNA

"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

ribonucleic acid Scientific

/ rī′bō-no̅o̅-klē′ĭk /

See RNA

ribonucleic acid Cultural

See RNA.

Etymology

Origin of ribonucleic acid

First recorded in 1930–35; ribo(se) + nucleic acid

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:

ribonucleic acid

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a crucial molecule that helps translate genetic information into proteins.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 30, 2025

Karikó was first introduced to ribonucleic acid, or RNA, in 1978 and said she’s been “passionate about this fragile molecule ever since.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2023

RNA, short for ribonucleic acid, would not be possible without uracil.

From Reuters ● Mar. 21, 2023

The Merck drug mimics the building blocks of ribonucleic acid, or RNA, causing viral replication to go haywire by creating mutations — so many that the viral genetic machinery fails.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 6, 2021

Ochoa received his share of the prize for research in ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid.

From History of Phosphorus by Eduard Farber

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023