nucleotide

[ noo-klee-uh-tahyd, nyoo- ]
/ ˈnu kli əˌtaɪd, ˈnyu- /

noun Biochemistry.

any of a group of molecules that, when linked together, form the building blocks of DNA or RNA: composed of a phosphate group, the bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine, and a pentose sugar, in RNA the thymine base being replaced by uracil.

Origin of nucleotide

First recorded in 1905–10; alteration of nucleoside

OTHER WORDS FROM nucleotide

in·ter·nu·cle·o·tide, adjective

Words nearby nucleotide

nucleoside, nucleoside analogue, nucleosome, nucleosynthesis, nucleotidase, nucleotide, nucleotides, nucleotidyltransferase, nucleotoxin, nucleus, nucleus fastigii

British Dictionary definitions for nucleotides

nucleotide
/ (ˈnjuːklɪəˌtaɪd) /

noun

biochem a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to phosphoric acid. Nucleic acids are made up of long chains (polynucleotides) of such compounds

Word Origin for nucleotide

C20: from nucleo- + t (added for ease of pronunciation) + -ide

Medical definitions for nucleotides

nucleotide
[ nōō′klē-ə-tīd′ ]

n.

Any of various compounds consisting of a nucleoside combined with a phosphate group and forming the basic constituent of DNA and RNA.

Scientific definitions for nucleotides

nucleotide
[ nōō′klē-ə-tīd′ ]

Any of a group of organic compounds composed of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group. Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of nucleic acids.

Cultural definitions for nucleotides

nucleotides
[ (nooh-klee-uh-teyedz) ]

The molecules that form the basic modular structure of the double helix of the DNA molecule. A nucleotide consists of three molecules — a sugar, a phosphate group, and a molecule called a base. If the double helix is a twisted ladder, the sugar and phosphates form the sides of the ladder and pairs of bases form the rungs. There are four different bases, usually abbreviated A, C, G, and T for adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine). The order of bases in DNA determines the genetic code.