nucleic acid

nucleic + acid; named for the fact that in eukaryotes, some of the important actions of such acids are especially associated with the nucleus of the cell.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /njuːˈkliː.ɪk ˈæsɪd/, /njuːˈkleɪ.ɪk ˈæsɪd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /nuˈkleɪ.ɪk ˈæsɪd/

• Audio (US):

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nucleic acid (countable and uncountable, plural nucleic acids)

1. (biochemistry, genetics) Any acidic, chainlike biological macromolecule consisting of multiple repeat units of phosphoric acid, sugar and purine and pyrimidine bases; they are involved in the preservation, replication and expression of hereditary information in every living cell

• DNA
• RNA
• nucleoside
• nucleotide