ricin
[ rahy-sin, ris-in ]
/ ˈraɪ sɪn, ˈrɪs ɪn /
noun Chemistry.
a white, poisonous, protein powder from the bean of the castor-oil plant.
Origin of ricin
1895–1900; < New Latin
Ricinus name of genus, Latin: castor-oil plant
Words nearby ricin
Example sentences from the Web for ricin
British Dictionary definitions for ricin
ricin
/ (ˈraɪsɪn, ˈrɪs-) /
noun
biochem
a highly toxic protein, a lectin, derived from castor-oil seeds: used in experimental cancer therapy
Word Origin for ricin
C19: from New Latin
Ricinus genus name, from Latin: castor-oil plant
Medical definitions for ricin
ricin
[ rī′sĭn, rĭs′ĭn ]
n.
A poisonous protein that is extracted from the castor bean and is used as a biochemical reagent.
Scientific definitions for ricin
ricin
[ rī′sĭn, rĭs′ĭn ]
An extremely poisonous protein extracted from the castor bean. Ricin inhibits protein synthesis in cells, and is used as a biochemical reagent and in cancer research.