Meanings
nounstart codon (plural start codons)
plural start codons
- The codon at which translation of mRNA into protein starts, encoding the first amino acid.
Synonyms: initiation codon
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe codon at which translation of mRNA into protein starts, encoding the first amino acid.
Similar
Also see
Origin
start (“indicating first, initial”) + codon
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish aloituskodoni
- aloituskodonicodon at which translation starts
Japanese 開始コドン
- 開始コドン (kaishi-kodon)codon at which translation starts
Polish kodon inicjujący
- kodon inicjującycodon at which translation starts
Cite this entry
APA
start codon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/start%20codon
MLA
“start codon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/start%20codon. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “start codon,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/start%20codon.
Source: start codon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.