pyrimidine

/paɪˈɹɪ.mɪˌdiːn/

PAꞮɹꞮ · mɪdiːn (2 syllables)

English Noun

Definition

A diazine in which the two nitrogen atoms are in the meta- positions; it is the basis of three of the bases found in DNA and RNA: thymine, uracil and cytosine

Etymology

First attested in 1885. From German Pyrimidin, from German Pyridin (“pyridine”), with the insertion of -mi- from amidine.