Main Entry: pu·rine

Pronunciation: \ˈpyu̇r-ˌēn\

Function: noun

Etymology: German Purin, from Latin purus pure + New Latin uricus uric (from English uric) + German -in ²-ine

Date: 1898

1 : a crystalline base C₅H₄N₄ that is the parent of compounds of the uric-acid group
2 : a derivative of purine; especially : a base (as adenine or guanine) that is a constituent of DNA or RNA