Definition

A type of organic compound that has more than one amino group in its structure, consisting of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen.

Example

Researchers are studying the effects of polyamines on cell growth.

Conversation

I just read about polyamine compounds in my chemistry book.

Oh really? What are they used for?

They have some interesting roles in biological processes.

That sounds cool! I should look into it more.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Polyamine → It is formed from "poly-" (from Greek "polus", meaning many) and "amine" (from Latin "ammonium", referring to a type of organic compound derived from ammonia). The word "polyamine" refers to a compound that contains multiple amine groups.

Memory Tip

Think of 'many' ('poly-') combined with 'amine', which helps you remember that a polyamine is a compound with many amine groups.

Visually Confused Words