Dna
name, noun, phrase, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 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”). abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
"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 phosphate."
- 2 Alternative form of DNA. alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable
- 3 (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information wordnet
- 4 The part of a living thing that carries genetic information. broadly, countable, informal, uncountable
- 5 The fundamental nature or values of a person, or an organization or other thing, especially when considered as innate and/or immutable. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"These ingredients in a company's DNA mean that [the] company will attract and grow leaders with these qualities."
- 1 To examine a sample of (someone's) deoxyribonucleic acid. transitive
"The only way we're gonna know is if we DNA him against the spunk in Karen."
- 2 To place (someone) under a DNA (do not arm) order because of mental illness. US
"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."
- 1 Did not answer.
- 2 Did not arrive (used when someone fails to keep an appointment).
- 3 Did not attend.
- 4 Do not assume.
- 5 Does not apply.
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Drugs 'n' alcohol.
- 7 Do not arm (that is, do not provide with a firearm). US
- 1 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. US, historical
Example
More examples"DNA is a complex chemical that makes up a gene."
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.
Related phrases
More for "dna"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.