taurine

¹

[ tawr-ahyn, -in ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a bull.
2. pertaining to the zodiacal sign Taurus.

taurine

²

[ tawr-een, -in ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a neutral crystalline substance, C 2 H 7 NO 3 S, obtained from bile.

taurine

¹

/ ˈtɔːraɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a bull

taurine

²

/ -rɪn; ˈtɔːriːn /

noun

1. a derivative of the amino acid, cysteine, obtained from the bile of animals; 2-aminoethanesulphonic acid. Formula: NH 2 CH 2 CH 2 SO 3 H

Word History and Origins

Origin of taurine¹

From the Latin word taurīnus, dating back to 1605–15. See taur-, -ine ¹

Origin of taurine²

First recorded in 1835–45; taur(ocholic) + -ine ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of taurine¹

C17: from Latin taurīnus, from taurus a bull

Origin of taurine²

C19: from tauro- (as in taurocholic acid, so called because discovered in ox bile) + -ine ²

Example Sentences

Each color in this slice of a mouse’s eye is a different amino acid; green is glutamine, pink is taurine and blue is glutamate.

From New York Times

"Birds preferentially feed spiders to their offspring because spiders have 50 times the amount of taurine than insects," Uetz said.

From Science Daily

“You have to supplement his diet,” Quintero said, recommending omega-3s and taurine, an amino acid critical for tigers that is also a main ingredient in energy drinks.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, the cattle belonged to the taurine lineage that was introduced to the region from Anatolia via the silk route and northern Tibetan Plateau.

From Science Daily

For example, one concern with vegan diets is a lack of taurine, which is essential for cats.

From Salon