Agency Dictionary
caffeine
nounPronunciation: /ˈkæfiːn/
In Portuguese: cafeína
Science & HealthWhat does “caffeine” mean?
A naturally occurring central nervous system stimulant found in coffee beans, tea leaves, and cacao pods.
Etymology
From French caféine and German Kaffein (now Koffein), names given to the alkaloid after it was isolated from coffee beans around 1820, a discovery credited to the German chemist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge. They are formed from the word for coffee, French café and German Kaffee, with the chemical ending -ine. Coffee itself reached Europe through Italian caffè, from Turkish kahve, from Arabic qahwa.
Usage note
One of the common exceptions to the spelling rule "i before e". Theine and guaranine are older names for the same substance as found in tea and guarana.
Synonyms
- theine
- guaranine
Word family
- caffeinated
- decaffeinated
- decaf
- coffee
- café
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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