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purine

Pronunciation: /ˈpjʊəriːn/
Definition of purine

noun

[mass noun] Chemistry
  • a colourless crystalline compound with basic properties, forming uric acid on oxidation.
    • A bicyclic compound; chemical formula: C5H4N4
  • (also purine base) [count noun] a substituted derivative of purine, especially the bases adenine and guanine present in DNA.

Origin:

late 19th century: from German Purin, from Latin purus 'pure' + uricum 'uric acid' + -ine4

purine in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of purine in the US English dictionary