ptomaine

[ toh-meyn, toh-meyn ]
/ ˈtoʊ meɪn, toʊˈmeɪn /

noun

any of a class of foul-smelling nitrogenous substances produced by bacteria during putrefaction of animal or plant protein: formerly thought to be toxic.

Origin of ptomaine

1875–80; < Italian ptomaina < Greek ptôma corpse + Italian -ina -ine2

OTHER WORDS FROM ptomaine

pto·main·ic, adjective

Words nearby ptomaine

ptolemaic universe, ptolemaist, ptolemy, ptolemy i, ptolemy ii, ptomaine, ptomaine poisoning, ptosed, ptosis, ptotic, ptp.

Example sentences from the Web for ptomaine

British Dictionary definitions for ptomaine

ptomaine

ptomain

/ (ˈtəʊmeɪn) /

noun

any of a group of amines, such as cadaverine or putrescine, formed by decaying organic matter

Word Origin for ptomaine

C19: from Italian ptomaina, from Greek ptoma corpse, from piptein to fall

Medical definitions for ptomaine

ptomaine
[ tō′mān′, tō-mān′ ]

n.

A basic nitrogenous organic compound produced by bacterial putrefaction of protein.

Scientific definitions for ptomaine

ptomaine
[ tō′mān′ ]

Any of various toxic nitrogenous organic compounds produced by bacterial decomposition of protein, especially in dead animal tissue. Ptomaines are bases and are formed by removing the carboxyl group (COOH) from amino acids. They do not cause food poisoning, as was previously thought, but the term ptomaine poisoning is still used to describe food poisoning caused by bacteria.