Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

uracil

noun
ura·​cil | \ ˈyu̇r-ə-ˌsil How to pronounce uracil (audio) , -səl\

Definition of uracil

: a pyrimidine base C4H4N2O2 that is one of the four bases coding genetic information in the polynucleotide chain of RNA — compare adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine

Examples of uracil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 However, rather than the conventional duo of base pairs, adenine and uracil or cytosine and guanine, the molecules form hexamers, or six-membered rings. — Quanta Magazine, "Chemists Seek Possible Precursor to RNA," 5 Feb. 2014

First Known Use of uracil

1890, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for uracil

International Scientific Vocabulary ur- entry 1 + acetic + -il (substance relating to)

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for uracil

uracil

noun
ura·​cil | \ ˈyu̇r-ə-ˌsil, -səl How to pronounce uracil (audio) \

Medical Definition of uracil

: a pyrimidine base C4H4N2O2 that is one of the four bases coding genetic information in the polynucleotide chain of RNA — compare adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine

WORD OF THE DAY

cataract

play

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!