ribosome

noun

ri·​bo·​some ˈrī-bə-ˌsōm How to pronounce ribosome (audio)
: any of the RNA-rich cytoplasmic granules that are sites of protein synthesis see cell illustration
ribosomal adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Remarkably, all the protein in all organisms is made by the catalytic activity of the RNA component of the ribosome, the cellular machine that reads genetic information and makes protein molecules. Jack Szostak, Scientific American, 1 June 2018 At the start of the animation, a ribosome (tan) is in the process of producing a connexin protein (aqua), based on information encoded in a messenger RNA molecule (purple). Karen Hopkin, Scientific American, 1 May 2015 So, for an lncRNA to escape the nucleus and give its instructions to a ribosome, the parental DNA must acquire those key U1 mutations or somehow make that transcribed section get cut out of the RNA strands altogether. Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 5 Jan. 2023 For example, most viruses lack aminoacyl tRNA synthetase enzymes, which shuttle amino acids onto transfer RNA molecules; these in turn make their way to the ribosome, dropping off their cargo to build proteins from the chains of amino acids. Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 20 Apr. 2017 The messenger RNA makes a copy of one of those codes and brings it to a machine called a ribosome that reads the mRNA code and produces a protein from it. Kirsi Goldynia, CNN, 12 Dec. 2022 Then the question is whether the full parts kit will assemble into a ribosome. Byrobert F. Service, science.org, 27 Oct. 2022 Now, Zhu and his team need to make the remaining components of a mirror-image ribosome. Byrobert F. Service, science.org, 27 Oct. 2022 These may change consensus ribosome binding sequences, transcription regulatory sequences, and other structures potentially affecting gene expression and overall biological properties of the virus. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ribosome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ribosome was in 1958

Dictionary Entries Near ribosome

Cite this Entry

“Ribosome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ribosome. Accessed 1 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

ribosome

noun
ri·​bo·​some ˈrī-bə-ˌsōm How to pronounce ribosome (audio)
: one of numerous small RNA-containing particles in a cell that are sites of protein synthesis

Medical Definition

ribosome

noun
ri·​bo·​some ˈrī-bə-ˌsōm How to pronounce ribosome (audio)
: any of the RNA- and protein-rich cytoplasmic granules that are sites of protein synthesis
ribosomal adjective

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