RNase

noun

RN·ase ˌär-ˌen-ˈās

-ˈāz,

ˌär-ˈen-ˌās

-ˌāz

variants or less commonly RNAase

ˌär-(ˌ)en-ˈā-ˌās

-ˈā-ˌāz

: ribonuclease

Word History

Etymology

RNA + -ase

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of RNase was in 1948

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“RNase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/RNase. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

RNase

noun

RN·ase

variants or RNAase

ˌär-ˌen-ˈā-ˌās, -ˈā-ˌāz

: ribonuclease

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Popular in Wordplay

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Popular Features

RNase

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

quark

Popular in Grammar & Usage