toxin Definition
toxin (täk′sin)
noun
- any of various poisonous compounds produced by some microorganisms and causing certain diseases
- any of various similar poisons, related to proteins, formed in certain plants, as ricin, or secreted by certain animals, as snake venom: toxins, when injected into animals or humans, typically initiate the formation of antitoxins
Etymology: tox(ic) + -in
toxin Synonyms
toxin Usage Examples
Converse of object
- secrete: A mild toxin secreted into the saliva in the mouth helps to stun the prey.
- ingest: The duration before onset of symptoms depends on the time taken for ingested toxin to reach the target site.
- eliminate: Drink plenty of water to help eliminate the toxins from your body.
- accumulate: Cleansing your body of its accumulated toxins is a great way to boost well-being.
- expel: The leaves, flowers and berries are beneficial in cases of cols and flu, as they expel toxins from the body.
- inhale: Protection of frontline workers The release of a Botulinum toxin aerosol will create an exposed zone that presents a high risk of inhaling toxin.
Preposition: in
shellfish: The ban follows the detection of high levels of amnesic shellfish poisoning ( ASP ) toxins in shellfish in the area.
Adjective modifier
- algal: The problems are not confined to land; there are also concerns about algal toxins in fish and the chemicals used in fish farming.
- bacterial: For example, Monsanto's approach to Colorado Beetle is to develop potato plants that produce bacterial toxins which kill the beetles.
- insecticidal: This natural pathogen produces an insecticidal toxin which leaves humans and beneficial insects unaffected.
- lethal: Kahn found high levels of lethal toxins in Frost's fatty tissue.
- harmful: It only takes harmful toxins out of the body.
- potent: This is no joke when the ants are fierce when provoked and have some of the most potent toxins around, wear your shoes.
Modifies a noun
ricin: Scientists have now isolated and modified the toxin ricin to eliminate severe side effects without compromising its power to kill tumor cells.
Noun used with modifier
- botulinum: At a secret meeting in Miami, they furnished him with tiny gelatine capsules filled with botulinum toxin.
- Bt: The ubiquity of such crops has also allowed the Bt toxin class to become the most widely used in the world.
- diphtheria: Once inside a cell the diphtheria toxin interferes with protein synthesis which ultimately kills the cancer cell.
- tetanus: Using the tetanus toxin model we have identified some aspects of the seizures.
- cholera: We will also use the well-characterised outer leaflet raft marker cholera toxin B subunit in similar studies.
- botulism: Prior to the research, no proven vaccine existed for the deadly botulism toxin.
Browse dictionary entries near toxin
- ‹ toxicosis
- ‹ toxicology
- ‹ toxicogenic
- ‹ toxico-
- ‹ toxicant
- ‹ toxic shock syndrome
- ‹ toxic
- ‹ toxemia
- ‹ toxaphene
- ‹ toxalbumin

