diterpene

D2I1T1E1R1P3E1N1E1

noun

any terpene formed from four isoprene units, and having twenty carbon atoms; includes vitamin A, the gibberellins, and various biologically active lactones such as quassin.

OriginEnglish terpene ← Latin di- ← Ancient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-) →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

nounditerpene (plural diterpenes)

plural diterpenes

  1. chemistryany terpene formed from four isoprene units, and having twenty carbon atoms; includes vitamin A, the gibberellins, and various biologically active lactones such as quassin.

    Further experiments are needed to elaborate the exact mechanisms of the hypotensive and diuretic effects of diterpene kaurenoids.

    2016, Maurice M. Iwu, Food as Medicine: Functional Food Plants of Africa

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  2. Proto-Indo-European*dwi-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*dwi-
  4. Ancient Greekδῐ- (dĭ-)
  5. Latindi-
  6. Englishdi-
  7. Englishterpene
  8. Englishditerpene

From di- + terpene.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

diterpene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diterpene

MLA

“diterpene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diterpene. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “diterpene,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diterpene.

Source: diterpene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.