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 group2: a derivative of purine ; especially : a base (as adenine or guanine) that is a constituent of DNA or RNA