ornithine

or·ni·thine

noun \ˈȯr-nə-ˌthēn\

Definition of ORNITHINE

: a crystalline amino acid C₅H₁₂N₂O₂ that functions especially in urea production as a carrier by undergoing conversion to citrulline and then arginine in reaction with ammonia and carbon dioxide followed by recovery along with urea by enzymatic hydrolysis of arginine