ˈbēd.əˌēn noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary beta- (from New Latin Beta ) + -ine; probably orig formed as German betain
1.
a. : a crystalline sweet-tasting quaternary ammonium salt that occurs in beet juice and other plant substances and in some marine animals and that is regarded as an inner salt or as a dipolar ion (CH 3 ) 3 N + CH 2 COO - derived from glycine by methylation or from choline by oxidation ; also : the hydrated form (OH)(CH 3 ) 3 NCH 2 COOH
b. or betaine hydrochloride : the chloride Cl(CH 3 ) 3 NCH 2 COOH of the hydrated form used as a source of hydrochloric acid especially in medicine
2. : any of several quaternary ammonium salts analogous in structure to betaine
alanine trimethyl betaine (CH 3 ) 3 N + CH(CH 3 )COO -