Phrase guide

stop codon

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

a sequence of three RNA nucleotides (A, C, G or U) that instruct the synthesis, or translation, of a protein to stop. The three-letter stop codon sequences have been given names: "UAG" is amber, "UGA" is opal, and "UAA" is ochre.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, genetics, medicine, microbiology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

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Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lopetuskodoni — codon that instructs protein synthesis to stop
  • Japanese: 終止コドン (shūshi-kodon) — codon that instructs protein synthesis to stop
  • Polish: kodon terminacyjny — codon that instructs protein synthesis to stop
  • Swedish: stoppkodon — codon that instructs protein synthesis to stop