dioxin Hear it!

dioxin definition

di·oxin (dī äksin)

noun

any of a family of heterocyclic hydrocarbons; esp., any of a number of isomers of a highly toxic chlorinated teratogen, TCDD, that occurs as an impurity in some herbicides and defoliants, including trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, a component of Agent Orange

Etymology: di- + ox- + -in

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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