dna
/ˌdiːɛnˈeɪ//ˌdiˌɛnˈeɪ/
dna is the alternative form of DNA.
Noun capitalized: DNA
DNA (countable and uncountable, plural DNAs)
- Initialism of deoxyribonucleic acid (“a nucleic acid found in all living things (and some non-living things such as certain viruses) which consists of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix; encoded in its structure are genetic instructions for development, functioning, growth, and reproduction”).
- Among the various fractions isolated was one presumed to contain only desoxyribosenucleic acid (DNA). Because of certain speculations on the role of nucleic acids in protein synthesis it was necessary to measure and compare the rate of phosphate entry into DNA with that in other fractions of yeast...1948 March–April, Martin D[avid] Kamen, “Detection of Intermediates, Criteria of Purity”, in Louis H. Roddis, editor, Supplement to the United States Naval Medical Bulletin on Preparation and...
- We wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (D.N.A.). This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest.1953 April 25, J[ames] D[ewey] Watson, F[rancis] H[arry] C[ompton] Crick, “Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid”, in Nature: A Weekly Illustrated Journal of...
- Synonyms:
- thread of life
- The part of a living thing that carries genetic information.
- The fundamental nature or values of a person, or an organization or other thing, especially when considered as innate or immutable.
- These ingredients in a company's DNA mean that [the] company will attract and grow leaders with these qualities.2003, Kevin [John] Kennedy, Mary Moore, “The Predictable Challenges Faced by Dominant Companies”, in Going the Distance: Why Some Companies Dominate and Others Fail, Upper Saddle River, N.J....
- The main leadership priority at Level 2 is creating the business's DNA by defining how all the moving parts of the company will work, both independently and together.2012, Bill McBean, “Fact 1: If You Don’t Lead, No One Will Follow”, in The Facts of Business Life: What Every Successful Business Owner Knows that You Don’t, Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN...
Verb (1) capitalized: DNA
DNA (third-person singular simple present DNAs, present participle DNAing, simple past and past participle DNAed)
- To examine a sample of (someone's) deoxyribonucleic acid.
- The only way we're gonna know is if we DNA him against the spunk in Karen.2002, Matthew Stokoe, High Life, New York, N.Y.: Akashic Books, published 2008, →ISBN, page 261
- The barrister went on to say that his client 'remains persecuted and victimised. He has been DNAed; his hair, his blood and his clothes. Nothing. No charges have ever been brought.'2004, Michael Sheridan, Death in December: The Story of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier, updated edition, Dublin: O’Brien, →ISBN, page 194
Proper noun capitalized: DNA
DNA
- Defense Nuclear Agency, an agency of the United States Department of Defense which existed from 1971 to 1996 and has since been reorganized as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Phrase capitalized: DNA
DNA
Verb (2) capitalized: DNA
DNA (third-person singular simple present DNAs, present participle DNAing, simple past and past participle DNAed)
- To place (someone) under a DNA (do not arm) order because of mental illness.
- She had her weapons back. She wasn't DNA'd anymore. But she didn't use a weapon. That's not how she did it.2018, Jeanne Marie Laskas, To Obama, with Love, Joy, Hate and Despair, New York, N.Y.: Random House, →ISBN, page 239
Synonyms of dna
Forms of dna
| Noun | |
|---|---|
| plural | dnas |
| plural | DNAs |
| Verb | |
| third-person singular present | DNAs |
| present participle | DNAing |
| past participle | DNAed |
| past | DNAed |
Origin of dna
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, phrase sense 7.
Words formed from dna
Phrases with dna
Questions about dna
- What does dna mean?
- Dna means the part of a living thing that carries genetic information.
- What is dna the alternative form of?
- Dna is the alternative form of DNA.
- What part of speech is dna?
- Dna can be a noun, a verb, a proper noun or a phrase.
- How do you pronounce dna?
- Dna is pronounced /ˌdiːɛnˈeɪ/ (UK).
- What is the plural of dna?
- The plural of dna is dnas.
Words near dna in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: dna (page history and authors); DNA (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-dna.wav, LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-DNA.wav.
Cite this entry: “dna.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/dna. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.