/koh"leen, kol"een/ , n.
1. Biochem. a quaternary ammonium cation, C 5 H 14 N + O, one of the B-complex vitamins, found in the lecithin of many plants and animals.
2. choline hydroxide, C 5 H 15 NO 2 , the viscous, strongly alkaline commercial form of this compound, usually synthesized, used as a feed supplement, esp. for poultry, and in medicine in certain liver conditions.
3. choline chloride, C 5 H 14 ClNO.
[ 1855-60; CHOL- + -INE 2 ]