amine

noun

ə-ˈmēn  ˈa-ˌmēn 

: any of a class of basic organic compounds derived from ammonia by replacement of hydrogen with one or more monovalent hydrocarbon radicals compare amide sense 2

Examples of amine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cooking meat at high temperatures or in direct contact with a flame or a hot surface can produce carcinogens, including heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). —Brittany Poulson, People.com, 8 July 2025

Many commercially available tattoo inks contain hazardous substances — including heavy metals like lead, mercury, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and primary aromatic amines (PAAs) formed from azo dyes. —Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025

Other compounds like ammonia and amines contribute to the fishy smell, Jen said. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 5 June 2025

Also, amines are potential carcinogenic agents and can contaminate air, soil, and water, so plants need to figure in an attendant expense to manage environmental risks. —Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin ammonia

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing amine

• heterocyclic amine

Rhymes for amine

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between
• bromine

Kids Definition

amine

noun

ə-ˈmēn  ˈam-ˌēn 

: any of various carbon compounds derived from ammonia

Medical Definition

amine

noun

ə-ˈmēn  ˈam-ˌēn 

: any of a class of organic compounds derived from ammonia by replacement of one, two, or three hydrogen atoms with alkyl groups see primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine