thymine

noun

thy·​mine ˈthī-ˌmēn How to pronounce thymine (audio)
: a pyrimidine base C5H6N2O2 that is one of the four bases coding genetic information in the polynucleotide chain of DNA compare adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil

Examples of thymine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The key shows the universal elements (hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen), the four bases of the DNA molecule (adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine) with their molecular structure, where they’re placed in the DNA double helix, and how genes are arranged on a chromosome. New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2024 All living organisms have DNA that is made of four nucleotide bases–adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2024 Agilent developed a way to print strands of DNA from the four nucleic acid bases—cytosine (C), guanine (G), adenine (A), and thymine (T). Phillip W. Barth, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Mar. 2024 In the double helix of DNA, the four types of bases in the opposing strands are paired, with guanine (G) bound to cytosine (C) and thymine (T) bound to adenine (A). Dan Samorodnitsky, Quanta Magazine, 17 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for thymine 

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin thymus

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thymine was in 1894

Dictionary Entries Near thymine

Cite this Entry

“Thymine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thymine. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

thymine

noun
thy·​mine ˈthī-ˌmēn How to pronounce thymine (audio)
: a pyrimidine base that is one of the bases coding hereditary information in DNA compare adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil

Medical Definition

thymine

noun
thy·​mine ˈthī-ˌmēn How to pronounce thymine (audio)
: a pyrimidine base C5H6N2O2 that is one of the four bases coding genetic information in the polynucleotide chain of DNA compare adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil

More from Merriam-Webster on thymine

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