thymine

noun

thy·​mine ˈthī-ˌmēn How to pronounce thymine (audio)
: a pyrimidine base C5H6N2O2 that is one of the four bases coding genetic information in the polynucleotide chain of DNA compare adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil

Examples of thymine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In the double helix of DNA, the four types of bases in the opposing strands are paired, with guanine (G) bound to cytosine (C) and thymine (T) bound to adenine (A). Dan Samorodnitsky, Quanta Magazine, 17 Jan. 2024 The molecule is made up of the chemical bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine—shortened to A, C, G, and T—which pair off to form a double helix. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2023 This storage system works by converting digital information to the elements that make up DNA: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). Emma Roth, The Verge, 4 Dec. 2023 Adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine with guanine; a short strand made up, for example, of ATCG would bind to TAGC and not other sequences. IEEE Spectrum, 26 Sep. 2023 The molecules are called bases and are represented by the letters A (adenine), T (thymine), G (guanine), and C (cytosine). IEEE Spectrum, 22 Feb. 2016 These symbols represent the four basic chemical letters, or bases, the body uses to form DNA--guanine, cytosine, adenine and thymine. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 30 Dec. 2010 Adenine bonds with thymine, and cytosine bonds with guanine. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023 Ninety percent of the thymine in their DNA was replaced by chlorouracil. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 6 July 2011

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thymine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin thymus

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thymine was in 1894

Dictionary Entries Near thymine

Cite this Entry

“Thymine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thymine. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

thymine

noun
thy·​mine ˈthī-ˌmēn How to pronounce thymine (audio)
: a pyrimidine base that is one of the bases coding hereditary information in DNA compare adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil

Medical Definition

thymine

noun
thy·​mine ˈthī-ˌmēn How to pronounce thymine (audio)
: a pyrimidine base C5H6N2O2 that is one of the four bases coding genetic information in the polynucleotide chain of DNA compare adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil

More from Merriam-Webster on thymine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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