noun
tyrosine
TY-ruh-seen
Tyrosine (noun) means an amino acid the body can make for itself, present in many animal proteins and plentiful in the milk protein casein. Example: “Tyrosine is one of the amino acids that make up proteins.”
noun
1
biochemistry An amino acid the body can make for itself, present in many animal proteins and plentiful in the milk protein casein.
"Tyrosine is one of the amino acids that make up proteins."
"The textbook lists tyrosine among the nonessential amino acids."
"Casein is a protein that contains a good deal of tyrosine."
How to use tyrosine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn amino acid found in many proteins, first discovered in cheese.
When to use it
It is a technical term used in biochemistry and nutrition.
Memory tip
It can be written Tyr as an abbreviation, but spell it out in ordinary prose.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
tyrosine kinase
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_____ is one of the amino acids that make up proteins.
Etymology
The word comes from the Ancient Greek word for cheese, tūrós, plus the suffix -ine. It was given this name because the substance was first discovered in cheese.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tyrosine
See all rhymes for tyrosine →Frequently asked questions
What is tyrosine?
Tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid that occurs in many animal proteins, particularly casein.
Why is it called tyrosine?
The name comes from the Ancient Greek word for cheese, because the substance was first discovered in cheese.
Is tyrosine an essential amino acid?
No, it is described as a nonessential amino acid.
What is the meaning of tyrosine?
"tyrosine" (noun) means an amino acid the body can make for itself, present in many animal proteins and plentiful in the milk protein casein.
