ricin
a white, poisonous, protein powder from the bean of the castor-oil plant.
Origin of ricin
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for ricin
/ (ˈraɪsɪn, ˈrɪs-) /
biochem a highly toxic protein, a lectin, derived from castor-oil seeds: used in experimental cancer therapy
Origin of ricin
1Collins 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 ricin
[ rī′sĭn, rĭs′ĭn ]
An extremely poisonous protein extracted from the castor bean. Ricin inhibits protein synthesis in cells, and is used as a biochemical reagent and in cancer research.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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