thymine

noun

thy·​mine ˈthī-ˌmēn 

: 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

Each bead is one of four different nucleotides: adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine, which biologists refer to by the letters A, T, C, and G. Strings of these nucleotides encode the building instructions and control switches for proteins and other molecules that do the work of maintaining life. —Michael C. Schatz, IEEE Spectrum, 27 June 2013

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

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin thymus

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

thymine

noun

thy·​mine ˈthī-ˌmēn 

: 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 

: 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