theine

[thee-een, -in]

noun

caffeine, especially in tea.

Nearby words

Origin of theine

1830–40; < New Latin the(a) tea + -ine²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for theine

As the theine is without flavour, its presence or absence cannot be determined by the taste of the tea.
Tea and Tea Drinking|Arthur Reade
It contains the same active principle, theine as tea and coffee, but not their volatile and empyreumatic oils.
Catalogue of Economic Plants in the Collection of the U. S. Department of Agriculture|William Saunders
In the following tea assay proper the estimation of theine is not included.
Legal Chemistry|A. Naquet
The active principles of the leaves are theine and a volatile oil, to which latter the flavor and odor are due.
Catalogue of Economic Plants in the Collection of the U. S. Department of Agriculture|William Saunders

Theine is no doubt a deadly poison, but we manage to drink it with tolerable safety in our tea and coffee.
Tobacco and Alcohol|John Fiske

British Dictionary definitions for theine

theine

noun

another name for caffeine, esp when present in tea

Word Origin for theine

C19: from New Latin thea tea + -ine ²

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