arginine
|ar-gi-nine|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑːrdʒɪniːn/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑːdʒɪniːn/
basic (positively charged) amino acid
Etymology
'arginine' ultimately comes from the German word 'Arginin', which was coined in the late 19th century for the amino acid. The German term was formed from roots referring to a silvery or shining quality derived from Greek.
'Arginin' (German, 19th century) was created to name the isolated crystalline substance; this form entered scientific languages and evolved into the English 'arginine'.
Initially the name referred to the isolated crystalline substance (noting its appearance in early descriptions), but over time it became the standard chemical name for the specific amino acid now known as 'arginine'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an α-amino acid (symbol Arg or R) used in the biosynthesis of proteins; has a positively charged (basic) side chain and serves as a precursor to nitric oxide.
Arginine is incorporated into many proteins and is important for cell signaling.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the chemical compound or supplement form (often as L-arginine) used in medicine and nutrition to support blood flow and wound healing.
Some athletes take arginine supplements to try to improve circulation.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/12 11:26