Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

trimethylamine

American  
[trahy-me-thuh-luh-meen] / ˌtraɪˌmɛ θə ləˈmin /

noun

  1. an organic compound, N(CH3)3, having a fishy odor and produced naturally by the degradation of lecithin, choline, and carnitine. It is also synthesized industrially for agricultural and other uses.


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:

When people eat red meat, the liver converts certain byproducts into trimethylamine N-oxide, a compound associated with cardiovascular disease.

From Science Daily Feb. 28, 2026

Researchers studied the presence of trimethylamine N-oxide, simply known as TMAO, a substance that is produced by the body after meat consumption.

From Salon Jan. 4, 2024

So to balance the urea and protect its tissue, sharks also have high concentrations of a compound called trimethylamine oxide, or TMAO.

From The Verge Aug. 31, 2017

This effect comes from a nerve agent called trimethylamine oxide.

From National Geographic Jul. 23, 2017

It consists in submitting to the action of heat the hydrochlorate of trimethylamine, which is obtained as a by-product in the manufacture of potash of beets.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 358, November 11, 1882 by Various

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training