cytosine \cy"to*sine\ (s[imac]"t[-o]*s[i^]n or s[imac]"t[-o]*s[=e]n), n. (Biochemistry) A pyrimidine ({C4H5N3O}) which is one of the four major basic components of DNA and RNA in most organisms, forming glyosides with ribose and deoxyribose. It is the basic component of cytidine, deoxycytidine, cytosine, cytidine monophosphate, and derivatives of those compounds. [PJC]