sphingosine

noun

sphin·go·sine ˈsfiŋ-gə-ˌsēn

plural sphingosines

: a long-chain unsaturated amino alcohol C₁₈H₃₇O₂N that is found especially in cell membranes and is a primary constituent of sphingolipids

Etymology

Greek sphingos (genitive of sphinx) + English -ine entry 2; from riddles it posed to its first investigators

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sphingosine was in 1881

See more words from the same year

Style

“Sphingosine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sphingosine. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

sphingosine

noun

sphin·go·sine ˈsfiŋ-gə-ˌsēn

-sən

: an unsaturated amino diol C₁₈H₃₇NO₂ obtained by hydrolysis of various sphingomyelins, cerebrosides, and gangliosides

Get Word of the Day daily email!