tox·in (t k s n)n. A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms and is capable of causing disease when introduced into the body tissues but is often also capable of inducing neutralizing antibodies or antitoxins. |
toxin
Noun
1. any of various poisonous substances produced by microorganisms and causing certain diseases
2. any other poisonous substance of plant or animal origin
| toxin (tksn) A poisonous substance, especially one produced by a living organism. Toxins can be products or byproducts of ordinary metabolism, such as lactic acid, and they must be broken down or excreted before building up to dangerous levels. Toxins can facilitate survival, as with snake venom that kills or immobilizes prey, or cyanide produced by some plants as a defense against being eaten. Bacterial toxins can sometimes be neutralized with antitoxins. Compare antitoxin. |
See: toxin agent.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  toxin - a poisonous substance produced during the metabolism and growth of certain microorganisms and some higher plant and animal speciesricin, ricin toxin - a toxic protein extracted from castor beans; used as a chemical reagent; can be used as a bioweapon; "one milligram of ricin can kill an adult" poison, poisonous substance, toxicant - any substance that causes injury or illness or death of a living organism animal toxin, zootoxin - a toxin resembling bacterial toxins in its antigenic properties that is found in the fluids of certain animals bacterial toxin - any endotoxin or exotoxin formed in or elaborated by bacterial cells cytotoxin - any substance that has a toxic effect on cells endotoxin - a toxin that is confined inside the microorganisms and is released only when the microorganisms are broken down or die exotoxin - a toxin that is secreted by microorganisms into the surrounding medium hepatotoxin - any toxin that affects the liver nephrotoxin - any toxin that affects the kidneys neurolysin, neurotoxin - any toxin that affects neural tissues phytotoxin, plant toxin - any substance produced by plants that is similar in its properties to extracellular bacterial toxin |
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