Nucleoside
/ˈnjuː.kli.ə.saɪd/noun
A nucleoside is a compound made of a nitrogenous base attached to a sugar, found in nucleic acids.
Did you know?The first element of nucleoside traces back to Latin *nucleus*, a diminutive of *nux* meaning “nut,” so the molecule’s name literally points to the “little kernel” at the center of the cell.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
nucleus
“a little nut; kernel; core”
Late Latin
Late Latin
nucle-
“the core or central part of something”
19th Century
English
nuclein
“a substance found in cell nuclei”
20th Century
English
nucleoside
“a base-sugar compound related to nucleic acids”