teratogen

[ tuh-rat-uh-juh n, -jen, ter-uh-tuh- ]
/ təˈræt ə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn, ˈtɛr ə tə- /

noun Biology.

a drug or other substance capable of interfering with the development of a fetus, causing birth defects.

Origin of teratogen

First recorded in 1900–05; terato- + -gen

OTHER WORDS FROM teratogen

te·rat·o·gen·ic, adjective

Words nearby teratogen

terat-, teratism, terato-, teratoblastoma, teratocarcinoma, teratogen, teratogenesis, teratogenic, teratogenicity, teratogeny, teratoid

British Dictionary definitions for teratogen

teratogen
/ (ˈtɛrətədʒən, tɪˈrætə-) /

noun

any substance, organism, or process that causes malformations in a fetus. Teratogens include certain drugs (such as thalidomide), infections (such as German measles), and ionizing radiation

Derived forms of teratogen

teratogenic, adjective teratogenicist, noun teratogenicity, noun

Medical definitions for teratogen

teratogen
[ tə-răt′ə-jən, tĕr′ə-tə- ]

n.

An agent, such as a virus, a drug, or radiation, that can cause malformations or functional damage to an embryo or a fetus.

Scientific definitions for teratogen

teratogen
[ tə-răt′ə-jən, tĕr′ə-tə- ]

An agent, such as a virus, a drug, or radiation, that can cause malformations in an embryo or fetus.