ˌthēəˈfiˌlēn, -ilə̇n noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary theo- (from New Latin thea tea) + phyll- + -ine
: a feebly basic bitter crystalline compound C 7 H 8 N 4 O 2 that is extracted from tea leaves but is usually made synthetically, that is isomeric with theobromine and closely related to caffeine, and that is used in medicine often in the form of derivatives or combinations with other drugs chiefly as a muscle relaxant in asthma, as a vasodilator, and as a diuretic; 1,3-dimethyl-xanthine