amino acid

noun

: an amphoteric organic acid containing the amino group NH₂

especially : any of the various amino acids having the amino group in the alpha position that are the chief components of proteins and are synthesized by living cells or are obtained as essential components of the diet

Examples of amino acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It can also be found in products that contain multiple amino acids. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 25 Dec. 2024

Rosetta caught whiffs of glycine, one of the amino acid building blocks of proteins. —Elise Cutts, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2024

Transformers made a huge impact in life sciences with Deep Mind's AlphaFold, a groundbreaking way to predict protein structures based on amino acid sequences (something not text) in minutes, a task that previously took scientists months in the labs via X-ray crystallography. —Harini Gopalakrishnan, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Protein is made of amino acid building blocks that are involved in the growth and maintenance of every tissue and structure within the body, including muscles, bones, skin, nails, and hair. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

amino acid

noun

ami·​no acid

ə-ˈmē-nō-

: any of numerous acids that include some which are the building blocks of proteins and are made by living cells from simpler compounds or are obtained in the diet

Medical Definition

amino acid

noun

: an amphoteric organic acid containing the amino group NH₂

especially : alpha-amino acid