capsaicin

[ kap-sey-uh-sin ]

noun
  1. a colorless, crystalline, bitter compound, C18H27NO3, present in capsicum.

Origin of capsaicin

1
1885–90; earlier capsicine, equivalent to capsic(um) + -ine2; refashioned with capsa- (<Latin: box) for caps- and -in2 for -ine2

Words Nearby capsaicin

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British Dictionary definitions for capsaicin

capsaicin

/ (kæpˈseɪɪsɪn) /


noun
  1. a colourless crystalline bitter alkaloid found in capsicums and used as a flavouring in vinegar and pickles. Formula: C 18 H 27 O 3 N

Origin of capsaicin

1
C19 capsicine, from capsicum + -ine ²; modern form refashioned from Latin capsa box, case + -in

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for capsaicin

capsaicin

[ kăp-sāĭ-sĭn ]


  1. A colorless, extremely pungent, crystalline compound that is the primary active principle producing the heat of red peppers. It is a strong irritant to skin and mucous membranes and is used in medicine as a topical analgesic. Capsaicin is highly stable, retaining its potency for long periods and despite cooking or freezing. Chemical formula: C18H27NO3.

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