thymine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “thymine” mean?
A nitrogenous base, one of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acid DNA.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A nitrogenous base, one of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acid DNA.
A pyrimidine derivative (C5H6N2O2) that pairs with adenine via two hydrogen bonds in the double helix structure of DNA. It is replaced by uracil in RNA.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are identical.
Connotations
Identical; purely scientific term with no cultural connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare in general discourse, used exclusively in relevant scientific fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “thymine” in a Sentence
Thymine is a component of ~.~ pairs with adenine.The sequence showed a high ~ content.UV light can cause ~ dimers.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thymine” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The thymine nucleotide was analysed.
- A thymine-rich region was identified.
American English
- The thymine nucleotide was analyzed.
- A thymine-rich region was identified.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in biology, genetics, biochemistry, and related scientific papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside of educational or popular science contexts.
Technical
Core term in molecular biology, genetics, and pharmaceutical research (e.g., discussing mutations or anticancer drugs).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thymine”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thymine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thymine”
- Misspelling as 'thiamine' (which is vitamin B1).
- Incorrectly stating it is found in RNA.
- Mispronouncing the first syllable to rhyme with 'thin' (/θɪn/) instead of 'thigh' (/θaɪ/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Thymine is a nucleobase in DNA. Thiamine is vitamin B1. They are completely different molecules and the similarity in spelling is coincidental.
Thymine has greater chemical stability than uracil (used in RNA), which is advantageous for the long-term storage of genetic information in DNA. Thymine's methyl group also aids in repair mechanisms.
It is pronounced THY-meen (/ˈθaɪ.miːn/), with the first syllable rhyming with 'thigh' or 'pie'.
Almost never. It is a highly specialised term confined to genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and related scientific or educational discussions.
A nitrogenous base, one of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acid DNA.
Thymine is usually technical / scientific in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'thymine' and 'thyme' the herb – both have a 'th' sound and are foundational (thyme in cooking, thymine in DNA's recipe for life). It pairs with Adenine: remember "AT" as in the 'at' sign (@), linking them together.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUILDING BLOCK / LETTER: Thymine is a fundamental letter in the genetic alphabet or a specific component in the molecular machinery.
Practice
Quiz
In which nucleic acid is thymine NOT found?