ALKALOID

alkaloid

(noun) natural bases containing nitrogen found in plants

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

alkaloid (plural alkaloids)

(organic chemistry) Any of many organic heterocyclic bases that occur in nature and often have medicinal properties.

Hyponyms

• See also alkaloid

Adjective

alkaloid (comparative more alkaloid, superlative most alkaloid)

Relating to, resembling, or containing alkali.

Source: Wiktionary


Al"ka*loid, n. (Chem.)

Definition: An organic base, especially one of a class of substances occurring ready formed in the tissues of plants and the bodies of animals.

Note: Alcaloids all contain nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen, and many of them also contain oxygen. They include many of the active principles in plants; thus, morphine and narcotine are alkaloids found in opium.

Al"ka*loid, Al`ka*loid"al, a. Etym: [Alkali + -oid: cf. F. alcaloïde.]

Definition: Pertaining to, resembling, or containing, alkali.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

7 May 2025

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Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.

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