adenosine triphosphate

noun

adenosine tri·​phos·​phate -trī-ˈfäs-ˌfāt 

: a nucleotide C₁₀H₁₆N₅O₁₃P₃ composed of adenosine and three phosphate groups that supplies energy for many biochemical cellular processes by undergoing enzymatic hydrolysis especially to ADP : atp

Examples of adenosine triphosphate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nitrogen is also a core component of chlorophyll, which absorbs energy from light in photosynthetic organisms, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy-carrying molecule found in the cells of plants and animals. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Sep. 2026

In animals, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) inside the muscle supplies most of the mechanical energy, while an electrical impulse travels along a motor neuron and triggers a chain of events that causes skeletal muscle fibers to contract. — New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026

Modern organisms use metabolic energy (for example, via burning a candy bar’s sugary calories) to make the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a universal energy store in the biosphere that is derived from phosphates. — Philip Ball, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

Both human and animal studies found the chemicals damage the ability of mitochondria to make adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for adenosine triphosphate

• bisphosphate
• diphosphate
• glycerophosphate
• organophosphate
• metaphosphate
• monophosphate
• orthophosphate
• polyphosphate
• pyrophosphate
• superphosphate
• phosphate

Kids Definition

adenosine triphosphate

noun

adenosine tri·​phos·​phate -trī-ˈfäs-ˌfāt 

: atp

Medical Definition

adenosine triphosphate

noun

adenosine tri·​phos·​phate -trī-ˈfäs-ˌfāt 

: atp