tyrosine

noun

ty·​ro·​sine ˈtī-rə-ˌsēn 

: a phenolic amino acid C₉H₁₁NO₃ that is a precursor of several important substances (such as epinephrine and melanin)

Examples of tyrosine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These arginine-tyrosine interactions remain active as the fiber solidifies. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026

Neurons at the brain’s base produce it in a two-step process: first, the amino acid tyrosine is converted into L-dopa; then, enzymes transform L-dopa into dopamine. —Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Spot On! Advertisement Advertisement There are also 11 non-essential amino acids—alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine—that can be produced by your body. —Stacey Colino, Time, 27 May 2025

Oral tyrosine supplementation improves exercise capacity in the heat PubMed. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, irregular from Greek tyros cheese — more at butter

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tyrosine

• acini
• aldine
• arsine
• carinii
• cosine
• delphine
• domine
• latine
• leucine
• ovine
• pennine
• porcine

Medical Definition

tyrosine

noun

ty·​ro·​sine ˈtī-rə-ˌsēn 

: a phenolic amino acid C₉H₁₁NO₃ that is a precursor of several important substances (as epinephrine and melanin)

—abbreviation Tyr