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-in - 7 dictionary results

-in

1 
Use -in in a Sentence
a suffix, occurring in adjectives of Greek and Latin origin, meaning “pertaining to,” and (in nouns thence derived) also imitated in English (coffin; cousin, etc.).
Origin:
ME -in, -ine < OF < L -inus, -ina, -inum < Gk -inos, -inē, -inon

-in

2 
a noun suffix used in a special manner in chemical and mineralogical nomenclature (glycerin; acetin, etc.). In spelling, usage wavers between -in and -ine. In chemistry a certain distinction of use is attempted, basic substances having the termination -ine rather than -in (aconitine; aniline, etc.), and -in being restricted to certain neutral compounds, glycerides, glucosides, and proteids (albumin; palmitin, etc.), but this distinction is not always observed.
Origin:
< NL -ina. See -ine 2

-in

3 
a suffixal use of the adverb in, extracted from sit-in, forming compound nouns, usually from verbs, referring to organized protests through or in support of the named activity (kneel-in; chain-in; be-in) or, more generally, to any organized social or cultural activity (cook-in; sing-in).
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To -in
-in  
suff.  
  1. Neutral chemical compound, especially:
    1. Neutral carbohydrate: inulin.
    2. Protein or protein derivative: albumin.
    3. Lipid or lipid derivative: lecithin.
    4. Enzyme: pancreatin.
    5. Glycoside: chitin.
  2. A pharmaceutical: rifampin.
  3. An antibiotic: penicillin.
  4. Antigen: tuberculin.
  5. Variant of -ine2.

[Variant of -ine2.]
-ine 2  
suff.  
  1. also -in A chemical substance, especially:
    1. Halogen: bromine.
    2. Basic compound: amine.
    3. Alkaloid: quinine.
  2. Amino acid: glycine.
  3. A mixture of compounds: gasoline.
  4. Commercial material: glassine.

[Ultimately from Latin -īnus and -inus, adj. suffixes; see -ine1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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-in

-in\ A suffix. See the Note under -ine.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : -in
Spanish: en,
German: in,
Japanese: ～の中に
More Translations »

-in suff.

  1. Neutral chemical compound: inulin.
  2. Pharmaceutical: rifampin.
  3. Antibiotic: penicillin.
  4. Antigen: tuberculin.
  5. Variant of -ine2.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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