thiourea
noun
thio·urea
ˌthī-ō-yu̇-ˈrē-ə 
: 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
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Thiourea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thiourea. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
thiourea
noun
thio·urea
-yu̇-ˈrē-ə
: 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
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