[ 'pjʊəri:n ]
■ noun Chemistry a colourless crystalline bicyclic compound with basic properties.
↘(also ~ base ) a substituted derivative of this forming one of the two classes of base present in DNA and RNA, including adenine and guanine.
Origin
C19: from Ger. Purin , from L. purus 'pure' + uricum 'uric acid' (which it forms on oxidation) + -ine 4 .