xanthine
English
Etymology
From international scientific vocabulary, from French xanthine, reflecting New Latin combining forms: xanth- + -ine; ultimately from Ancient Greek ξανθός (xanthós, “yellow”), because xanthine is yellowish-white.
Pronunciation
- Homophones: xanthein, xanthene
Noun
xanthine (plural xanthines)
- (chemistry) Any of a group of alkaloids that include caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine as well as the parent compound, a precursor of uric acid found in many organs of the body.
Usage notes
- There is much confusion between this word and xanthein, and they are often interchanged.
Derived terms
- methylxanthine
- nonxanthine
- xanthine oxidase
- zooxanthine
Translations
group of alkaloids, including caffeine
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Anagrams
- xanthein
French
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ξανθός (xanthós, “yellow”) + -ine, because xanthine is yellowish-white.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡzɑ̃.tin/
Audio (file)
Noun
xanthine f (plural xanthines)
- xanthine
Further reading
- “xanthine”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams
- Xanthien