heterocyclic amine
noun
: an amine containing one or more closed rings of carbon and nitrogen
especially
: any of various carcinogenic amines formed when creatine or creatinine reacts with free amino acids and sugar in meat cooked at high temperatures
Examples of heterocyclic amine in a Sentence
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When muscle meats are over-cooked and burned, chemicals called HCAs (heterocyclic amines) are formed, which have been linked to an increased cancer risk in animals.
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NBC News, 21 June 2019
Grill like a pescatarian Cooking most meat at temperatures above 300°F can produce potentially cancer-causing chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs), according to the National Cancer Institute.
—Jamie Ducharme, Time, 1 June 2018
The rub: Cooking meat at high temperatures over an open flame to create that great grilled flavor also creates cancer-causing chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs).
—Andrea Thelen, Ms, Detroit Free Press, 9 July 2018
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NBC News, 21 June 2019
Grill like a pescatarian Cooking most meat at temperatures above 300°F can produce potentially cancer-causing chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs), according to the National Cancer Institute.
—Jamie Ducharme, Time, 1 June 2018
The rub: Cooking meat at high temperatures over an open flame to create that great grilled flavor also creates cancer-causing chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs).
—Andrea Thelen, Ms, Detroit Free Press, 9 July 2018
Cite this Entry
“Heterocyclic amine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heterocyclic%20amine. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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