TOXIN

toxin

(noun) a poisonous substance produced during the metabolism and growth of certain microorganisms and some higher plant and animal species

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

toxin (plural toxins)

A toxic or poisonous substance produced by the biological processes of biological organisms.

Usage notes

Toxin is often incorrectly used to describe various toxic substances in a body that need to be removed. The correct term to use in this case is toxicant.

Source: Wiktionary


Tox"in, Tox"ine, n. Etym: [Gr.Toxic. ]

Definition: A poisonous product formed by pathogenic bacteria, as a toxic proteid or poisonous ptomaine.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

17 June 2025

RECREANT

(adjective) having deserted a cause or principle; “some provinces had proved recreant”; “renegade supporters of the usurper”


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Coffee Trivia

In 1884, Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, demonstrated the first working example of an espresso machine.

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