Main Entry: xan·thine

Pronunciation: \ˈzan-ˌthēn\

Function: noun

Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary

Date: 1857

: a feebly basic compound C₅H₄N₄O₂ that occurs especially in animal or plant tissue, is derived from guanine and hypoxanthine, and yields uric acid on oxidation; also : any of various derivatives of xanthine (as methylxanthine)