Word
DNA
Phoneticsdna
/ˈdiˌɛˈneɪ/
Definitions
01genetic material
n. Stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. The substance in cells that carries genetic information for all living things.
n. Abbreviation for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. The molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms.
“The police used DNA from the crime scene to identify the suspect.”
“Advances in sequencing technology have allowed researchers to map the entire human DNA structure with unprecedented accuracy.”
Technical
Usage
Usually treated as an uncountable noun when referring to the substance generally.
Synonyms
02fundamental nature
n. the basic qualities or values that make a person or organization what they are.
n. The fundamental nature, core values, or innate characteristics of a person, organization, or system.
“Innovation is part of this company's DNA.”
“The desire for exploration seems to be written into the DNA of the human race.”
Informal
Teaching tip
This is a very common metaphorical use in business and journalism to describe a company's culture.
03to test genetic material
v. to test a person's DNA to find out information about them.
v. To perform a genetic analysis on a biological sample from a specific individual.
“The lab will DNA the samples to confirm the family relationship.”
“The forensic team was instructed to DNA every piece of evidence recovered from the site to ensure no lead was overlooked.”
Informal · Technical
Usage
This is a functional shift where the noun is used as a transitive verb.
Real-World Examples
“In a new study , published in the journal Science , researchers at Stanford University used AI to design the DNA of a complete phage.” “The rise of the potato in the Andes appears to have left a lasting mark on human DNA.” Etymology
The noun is an initialism of deoxyribonucleic acid. The verb is derived from the noun.
An initialism of the various terms listed below. The verb sense is derived from noun etymology 2 sense 7.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/dna