colchicine

[ kol-chuh-seen, -sin, kol-kuh- ]
/ ˈkɒl tʃəˌsin, -sɪn, ˈkɒl kə- /

noun Pharmacology.

a pale yellow, crystalline alkaloid, C22H25NO6, the active principle of colchicum.

Origin of colchicine

First recorded in 1850–55; colchic(um) + -ine2

Words nearby colchicine

Example sentences from the Web for colchicine

British Dictionary definitions for colchicine

colchicine
/ (ˈkɒltʃɪˌsiːn, -sɪn, ˈkɒlkɪ-) /

noun

a pale-yellow crystalline alkaloid extracted from seeds or corms of the autumn crocus. It is used in the treatment of gout and to create polyploid plants by inhibiting chromosome separation during meiosis. Formula: C 22 H 25 NO 6

Word Origin for colchicine

C19: from colchicum + -ine ²