DictionaryRoot: -ine
French
-ine
an ending used in substance names
Forms
- -ine
Origin
French scientific naming adapted older descriptive endings, especially Latin -inus and its related forms.
Note
It does not identify one chemical class. Naming conventions changed as chemistry developed.
10 / 17
noun
creatine
KREE-uh-teen/ˈkriəˌtin/
A compound that helps supply energy to muscles.
Etymology
The name combines “flesh” with a substance-forming suffix because creatine was obtained from muscle tissue. It names the compound by its source, rather than by its use as an exercise supplement.