nucleotide
|nu-cle-o-tide|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈnuː.kli.oʊˌtaɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˈnjuː.kli.əˌtaɪd/
basic unit of nucleic acids
Etymology
Etymology Information
'nucleotide' originates from the combination of 'nucleo-' referring to the nucleus and '-tide' from 'peptide', indicating a compound.
Historical Evolution
The term 'nucleotide' was coined in the early 20th century as the understanding of DNA and RNA structures developed.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to any compound forming the basic unit of nucleic acids, and this meaning has remained consistent.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group. Nucleotides form the basic structural unit of nucleic acids such as DNA.
Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA and RNA.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/22 03:09