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ribonucleic acid

American  
[rahy-boh-noo-klee-ik as-id, -kley-, -nyoo-, rahy-] / ˈraɪ boʊ nuˈkli ɪk ˈæs ɪd, -ˈkleɪ-, -nju-, ˌraɪ- /
Sometimes ribose nucleic acid

noun

Biochemistry.
  1. RNA.


ribonucleic acid British  
/ ˌraɪbəʊnjuːˈkliːɪk, -ˈkleɪ- /

noun

  1. 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-klēĭk /
  1. See RNA


ribonucleic acid Cultural  
  1. 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:

Burns said another study with Gruber looked at how capture methods affect jellyfish ribonucleic acid, known as RNA, one of the building blocks of life.

From Science Daily Jan. 17, 2024

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 Farber, Eduard

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