toxin
[ tok-sin ]
/ ˈtɒk sɪn /
noun
any poison produced by an organism, characterized by antigenicity in certain animals and high molecular weight, and including the bacterial toxins that are the causative agents of tetanus, diphtheria, etc., and such plant and animal toxins as ricin and snake venom.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH toxin
toxic toxinWords nearby toxin
toxicol.,
toxicology,
toxicopathic,
toxicosis,
toxigenic,
toxin,
toxin-antitoxin,
toxinic,
toxinogenic,
toxins,
toxipathic
Example sentences from the Web for toxins
British Dictionary definitions for toxins
toxin
/ (ˈtɒksɪn) /
noun
Medical definitions for toxins
toxin
[ tŏk′sĭn ]
n.
A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms and is capable of causing disease when introduced into the body tissues but is often also capable of inducing neutralizing antibodies or antitoxins.
Scientific definitions for toxins
toxin
[ tŏk′sĭn ]
A poisonous substance, especially one produced by a living organism. Toxins can be products or byproducts of ordinary metabolism, such as lactic acid, and they must be broken down or excreted before building up to dangerous levels. Toxins can facilitate survival, as with snake venom that kills or immobilizes prey, or cyanide produced by some plants as a defense against being eaten. Bacterial toxins can sometimes be neutralized with antitoxins. Compare antitoxin.
Cultural definitions for toxins
toxins
Poisonous substances, consisting mainly of protein, that are a by-product of metabolism in certain organisms. Toxins that enter the body through a bacterial infection can be very harmful and can result in diseases such as tetanus and botulism.