toxin

noun

tox·​in ˈtäk-sən How to pronounce toxin (audio)
: a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation

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Toxins Are Often Found in Nature

Long before chemists started creating poisons from scratch, humans were employing natural toxins for killing weeds and insects. For centuries South American tribes have used the toxin curare, extracted from a native vine, to tip their arrows. The garden flower called wolfsbane or monkshood is the source of aconite, an extremely potent toxin. The common flower known as jimsonweed contains the deadly poison scopolamine. And the castor-oil plant yields the almost unbelievably poisonous toxin called ricin. Today we hear health advisers of all kinds talk about ridding the body of toxins; but they're usually pretty vague about which ones they mean, and most of these "toxins" wouldn't be called that by biologists.

Examples of toxin in a Sentence

the toxin in scorpion venom read a pamphlet on the toxin responsible for botulism, a food poisoning that can cause paralysis and even death in some cases
Recent Examples on the Web Tunnell says pouring hot water and vinegar will help deactivate the toxins. Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 Comparing their findings to current health guidelines is tricky, because studies on living people often measure hair, which reflects substances ingested within weeks, whereas bone accumulates toxins over years. Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 People poisoned from eating fish containing the toxin experience unpleasant gastrointestinal, neurological and even cardiac symptoms that typically resolve within a few days, but could last weeks, according to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024 The versatile, durable and cheap material is clogging the world’s oceans, leaching toxins into its biomes and contributing to climate change. Ted Alcorn, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024 These toxins can damage critical organs, contributing to conditions like fatty liver disease, diabetes, and heart disease. Christopher Thompson, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The Central Park Zoo, in its initial report, said that Flaco had died of acute traumatic injury, but further tests would determine whether he had been exposed to toxins or infectious diseases. Tracey Tully, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024 Regulators cite concerns about the delivery companies not paying fees and taxes and selling weed that hasn’t been tested for pesticides or other possible toxins. Brad Branan, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 He was not poisoned with a weapons-grade toxin or found in the wreckage of an aircraft that plunged from the sky. Greg Miller, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toxin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toxin was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near toxin

Cite this Entry

“Toxin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxin. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

toxin

noun
tox·​in ˈtäk-sən How to pronounce toxin (audio)
: a substance produced by a living organism (as a bacterium) that is very poisonous to other organisms and that usually causes antibody formation compare antitoxin
Etymology

derived from Latin tox- "poisonous" and English -in "chemical compound"; tox- from toxicum "poison," from Greek toxikon "arrow poison," from toxon "bow, arrow" — related to intoxicate, toxic see Word History at intoxicate

Medical Definition

toxin

noun
tox·​in ˈtäk-sən How to pronounce toxin (audio)
: a colloidal proteinaceous poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation

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