taurine

adjective
tau·​rine | \ ˈtȯ-ˌrīn How to pronounce taurine (audio) \

Definition of taurine

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: of or relating to a bull : bovine

taurine

noun
tau·​rine | \ ˈtȯ-ˌrēn How to pronounce taurine (audio) \

Definition of taurine (Entry 2 of 2)

: a crystalline acid C2H7NO3S that is synthesized in the body from cysteine and methionine, is similar to amino acids but is not a component of proteins, and is involved in various physiological functions (such as bile acid conjugation and cell membrane stabilization)

Examples of taurine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

YOLO Shots are made with caffeine-deprived from organic green coffee beans, ginseng, taurine, vitamins B12 and B6, and of course, CBD. Allure, "Sunday Scaries Just Launched CBD-Infused Energy Shots," 7 Aug. 2019 Other challenging nutrients are vitamin D, vitamin B12 and taurine - an amino acid found in mammalian tissues (humans and dogs can synthesize it from plant sources). Marta Zaraska, chicagotribune.com, "Be leery about vegetarian diets for your pets," 10 July 2019 These places are filling stations for the body, where tired drivers can replenish with water, caffeine, taurine, and nicotine or indulge in sugar or salt without judgment, because diets don’t apply here. Tony Rehagen, BostonGlobe.com, "Farewell to hot dog rollers and roadside chats: an elegy for the American gas station," 11 July 2019 All were fine in terms of vitamin B12; as for taurine, three cats were found deficient. Marta Zaraska, chicagotribune.com, "Be leery about vegetarian diets for your pets," 10 July 2019 Four Loko does not contain caffeine, taurine or guarana. Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "What Actually Happens When You Combine Alcohol and Caffeine?," 29 June 2018 The heart muscle, specifically, supplies critical amino acids like carnitine and taurine. + Chicken gizzards. Marygrace Taylor, Good Housekeeping, "4 Holistic Vets Reveal Exactly What They Feed Their Dogs," 5 Apr. 2017 Her venom is packed with GABA and two other compounds that also activate the same chloride receptors, β-alanine and taurine. Christie Wilcox, Scientific American, "How a Wasp Turns Cockroaches into Zombies," 1 May 2017 Coco Loco contains cacao powder as well as ingredients often found in energy drinks, including taurine, guarana, and ginkgo biloba. Ars Technica, SELF, "The FDA Is Not Cuckoo for Coco Loko, a Chocolatey Alternative to Snorting Cocaine," 14 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'taurine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of taurine

Adjective

1613, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for taurine

Adjective

Latin taurinus, from taurus bull; akin to Greek tauros bull, Middle Irish tarb

Noun

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Latin taurus; from its having been discovered in ox bile

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for taurine

taurine

noun
tau·​rine | \ ˈtȯ-ˌrēn How to pronounce taurine (audio) \

Medical Definition of taurine

: a colorless crystalline acid C2H7NO3S that is synthesized in the body from cysteine and methionine, is similar to amino acids but is not a component of proteins, and is involved in various physiological functions (as bile acid conjugation and cell membrane stabilization)