NYT Dictionary

PEPTIDE

/ˈpɛptaɪd/
NounPEP-tidepep-tide · 2 syllablesGrade 11

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Any of a class of organic compounds consisting of various numbers of amino acids in which the amine of one is reacted with the carboxylic acid of the next to form an amide bond. Such molecules joined into polypeptides and proteins constitute crucial components of living organisms.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *pékʷ-ye- Proto-Hellenic *pét͏̌t͏̌ō Ancient Greek πέσσω (péssō)bf. Ancient Greek πέπτω (péptō) Ancient Greek πεπτόν (peptón)der. German Peptonbor. English peptone English -ide ▲ German Pepton Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *-iðos Latin -idusder. German -id German Peptidbor. English peptide From peptone, partially hydrolyzed protein, or German Peptid, from German Pepton, from Ancient Greek πεπτόν (peptón, “cooked, digested”) derived from πέπτω (péptō, “soften, ripen, boil, cook, bake, digest”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

peptidehemoglobinprotein

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 7 recorded puzzles:

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