thiourea

noun

: a colorless crystalline bitter compound CS(NH2)2 analogous to and resembling urea that is used especially as a photographic and organic chemical reagent
also : a substituted derivative of this compound

Examples of thiourea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Many plants, including broccoli, evolved to produce bitter-tasting chemicals like thiourea to avoid being eaten. Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 5 June 2020 One of those genes, TAS2R38, recognizes bitter chemicals like thioureas, which are plentiful in broccoli. Bill Sullivan, National Geographic, 6 Aug. 2019

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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thiourea was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near thiourea

Cite this Entry

“Thiourea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thiourea. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

thiourea

noun
thio·​urea -yu̇-ˈrē-ə How to pronounce thiourea (audio)
: a colorless bitter crystalline compound CS(NH2)2 analogous to and resembling urea that is used especially as a reagent and in medicine as an antithyroid drug

called also thiocarbamide

More from Merriam-Webster on thiourea

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