Meanings
plural ribonucleic acids · abbreviation RNA
- countableuncountablebiochemistryA derivative of DNA having ribose in place of deoxyribose, and uracil in place of thymine; its primary function is in the transcription of genetic material and subsequent synthesis of protein.
Synonyms: ribose nucleic acid
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA derivative of DNA having ribose in place of deoxyribose, and uracil in place of thymine; its primary function is in the transcription of genetic material and subsequent synthesis of protein.
More synonyms by meaning
noun(biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated with microsomes; it transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm and controls certain chemical processes in the cell
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Bulgarian рибонуклеи́нова киселина́
- рибонуклеи́нова киселина́ (ribonukleínova kiseliná)derivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Catalan àcid ribonucleic
- àcid ribonucleicderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Chinese Cantonese 核糖核酸
- 核糖核酸 (hat⁶ tong⁴ hat⁶ syun¹)derivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Chinese Mandarin 核糖核酸
- 核糖核酸 (hétáng hésuān)derivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Czech ribonukleová kyselina
- ribonukleová kyselinaderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Finnish ribonukleiinihappo
- ribonukleiinihappoderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
French acide ribonucléique
- acide ribonucléiquederivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
German Ribonukleinsäure (RNS f)
- Ribonukleinsäure (RNS f)derivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Hungarian ribonukleinsav
- ribonukleinsavderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Icelandic ríbósakjarnsýra
- ríbósakjarnsýraderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Irish aigéad ribeanúicléasach
- aigéad ribeanúicléasachderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Italian acido ribonucleico
- acido ribonucleicoderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Japanese リボ核酸
- リボ核酸 (ribokakusan)derivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Korean 리보핵산
- 리보핵산 (ribohaeksan)derivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Latin acidum ribonucleicum
- acidum ribonucleicumderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Malay asid ribonukleik
- asid ribonukleikderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Polish kwas rybonukleinowy
- kwas rybonukleinowyderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Portuguese ácido ribonucleico
- ácido ribonucleicoderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Romanian acid ribonucleic
- acid ribonucleicderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Russian рибонуклеи́новая кислота́
- рибонуклеи́новая кислота́ (ribonukleínovaja kislotá)derivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Spanish ácido ribonucleico
- ácido ribonucleicoderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Swedish ribonukleinsyra
- ribonukleinsyraderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Turkish ribonükleik asit
- ribonükleik asitderivative of DNA, used in the transcription of genetic material
Cite this entry
ribonucleic acid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ribonucleic%20acid
“ribonucleic acid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ribonucleic%20acid. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ribonucleic acid,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ribonucleic%20acid.
Source: ribonucleic acid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.