caffeine

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From French caféine,[1] from café (coffee), or German Caffein, Kaffein[2] (cp. Coffein, Koffein), from Kaffee (coffee) (cp. Kaffe, Koffee, Koffe), or Italian caffè (coffee) +‎ -ine.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈkæfiːn/, /kæˈfiːn/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -æfiːn, -iːn

Noun[edit]

caffeine (usually uncountable, plural caffeines)

  1. An alkaloid, C8H10N4O2, found naturally in tea and coffee plants which acts as a mild stimulant on the central nervous system. [from 1830]
    Coordinate terms: guaranine, mateine, theine

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ caffeine”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  2. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024), “caffeine”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Further reading[edit]

Italian[edit]

Noun[edit]

caffeine f pl

  1. plural of caffeina