caffeine
/ˈkafiːn
/noun [mass noun]
An alkaloid compound which is found especially in tea and coffee plants and is a stimulant of the central nervous system.
- chemical formula: C8H10N4O2.
- They have a similar effect to tea or coffee, since they contain the same alkaloid, caffeine.
- In flowering plant pollen tubes, caffeine disrupts vesicle zonation at the tip and stops elongation.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from French caféine, from café 'coffee'.