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theobromine

American  
[thee-uh-broh-meen, -min] / ˌθi əˈbroʊ min, -mɪn /

noun

Pharmacology.

  1. a white, crystalline, water-insoluble, poisonous powder, C 7 H 8 N 4 O 2 , an isomer of theophylline and lower homologue of caffeine, occurring in tea and obtained from the cacao bean: used chiefly as a diuretic, myocardial stimulant, and vasodilator.

theobromine British  
/ -mɪn, ˌθiːəʊˈbrəʊmiːn /

noun

  1. a white crystalline slightly water-soluble alkaloid that occurs in many plants, such as tea and cacao: formerly used to treat asthma. Formula: C 7 H 8 N 4 O 2 See also xanthine

"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
theobromine Scientific  
/ thē′ō-brō′mēn′ /

  1. A bitter, colorless alkaloid that occurs in the cacao bean, cola nuts, and tea. It is found in chocolate products and used in medicine as a diuretic, vasodilator, and myocardial stimulant. Theobromine is a xanthine and similar in structure to caffeine and theophylline. Chemical formula: C 7 H 8 N 4 O 2 .

Etymology

Origin of theobromine

1835–45; < New Latin Theobrom ( a ) genus of trees typified by cacao (< Greek theo- theo- + brôma food) + -ine 2

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Example Sentences

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Individuals with higher amounts of theobromine in their bloodstream tended to have a biological age that appeared younger than their chronological age.

From Science Daily • Dec. 12, 2025

The lack of theobromine also means that unlike chocolate, carob is not toxic to dogs and cats.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 8, 2024

Tea and chocolate also contain caffeine, which theobromine is related to as part of the purine family of chemicals.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2024

Cocoa bean mulch, which contains caffeine and theobromine, can cause vomiting and diarrhea, among other issues.

From Washington Post • May 4, 2022

Caffeine and theobromine enjoy nervine properties and energetic vascular actions.

From The Healthy Life, Vol. V, Nos. 24-28 The Independent Health Magazine by Daniel, Charles William

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.