/trip"teuh fan'/ , n. Biochem.
an essential amino acid, (C 8 H 6 N)CH 2 CH(NH 2 )COOH, colorless, crystalline, and aromatic, released from proteins by tryptic digestion and a precursor of serotonin. Abbr: Trp; Symbol: W
Also, tryptophane /trip"teuh fayn'/ .
[ 1900-05; trypto- (irreg. comb. form repr. Gk triptós rubbed) + -PHAN(E) ]