Meanings
nounmercaptopurine (countable and uncountable, plural mercaptopurines)
plural mercaptopurines · alternative 6-mercaptopurine
- countableuncountablemedicineAn thiol antimetabolite C₅H₄N₄S that interferes especially with the metabolism of purine bases and the biosynthesis of nucleic acids and that is sometimes used in the treatment of acute leukemia.
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna drug (trade name Purinethol) that interferes with the metabolism of purine and is used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia
Similar
Purinethol
Broader
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- LatinMercurius
- Latinmercurium
- Proto-Indo-European*kap-
- Proto-Indo-European*kapyéti
- Proto-Italic*kapjō
- Latincapiō
- Latincaptō
- Latincaptāns
- Latinmercurium captāns
- Englishmercapto-
- GermanPurin
- Englishpurine
- Englishmercaptopurine
Cite this entry
APA
mercaptopurine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mercaptopurine
MLA
“mercaptopurine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mercaptopurine. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mercaptopurine,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mercaptopurine.
Source: mercaptopurine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.