a white crystalline slightly water-soluble alkaloid that is an isomer of theobromine: it occurs in plants, such as tea, and is used to treat asthma. Formula: C7H8N4O2
See also xanthine (sense 2)
Word origin
C19: from theo(bromine) + phyllo- + -ine2
theophylline in American English
(ˌθiəˈfɪlˌin; ˌθiəˈfɪlɪn)
noun
a colorless, crystalline alkaloid, C7H8N4O2·H2O, extracted from tea leaves or prepared synthetically: an isomer of theobromine
Word origin
< ModL thea, tea (infl. by Gr, goddess, as being a divine herb, but < source of tea) + -phyll + -ine3