Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

RNA

play
noun \ ˌär-(ˌ)en-ˈā \

Definition of RNA

:any of various nucleic acids that contain ribose and uracil as structural components and are associated with the control of cellular chemical activities — compare messenger rna, ribosomal rna, transfer rna

See RNA defined for English-language learners

See RNA defined for kids

Read the Latest from M-W

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
alt-59c13729150dc
"Immune to" or "Immune from"?
alt-59bab5dbb4997
Trending: 'Bodega' Startup Draws Criticism, Mockery
image2143067130
9 Slang Words With Academic Origins

Origin and Etymology of rna

ribonucleic acid

RNA Defined for English Language Learners

RNA

play
noun

Definition of RNA for English Language Learners

  • : a substance in the cells of plants and animals that helps make proteins

Medical Dictionary

RNA

play
noun \ ˌär-ˌen-ˈā \

medical Definition of RNA

:any of various nucleic acids that contain ribose and uracil as structural components and are associated with the control of cellular chemical activities — called also ribonucleic acid; see messenger rna, ribosomal rna, transfer rna

Learn More about rna

  1. See words that rhyme with RNA Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about RNA

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up RNA? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

glabrous

play

smooth or hairless

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. bodega "Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

  2. carceral Of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison

  3. allegory No spoilers!

  4. hurricane 'A tropical cyclone'

  5. rescind To take away; cancel; repeal

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

RN
Rn
RNA

Test Your Vocabulary

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

  • stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
  • Which is a synonym of fuliginous?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59c13729150dc
"Immune to" or "Immune from"?

Nobody is immune to this question.

alt-59bff395cf879
What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

Its recent usage is hard to shrug off.

alt-59bad350d88f1
Welcome to the New Words

From 'hive mind' to 'sriracha'

image2143067130
9 Slang Words With Academic Origins

Class is in session.

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz
name-that-color-logo
Name that Color!

NEW! Additional colors! More obscure than before!

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game