ricin

[ rahy-sin, ris-in ]

nounChemistry.
  1. a white, poisonous, protein powder from the bean of the castor-oil plant.

Origin of ricin

1
1895–1900; <New Latin Ricinus name of genus, Latin: castor-oil plant

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British Dictionary definitions for ricin

ricin

/ (ˈraɪsɪn, ˈrɪs-) /


noun
  1. biochem a highly toxic protein, a lectin, derived from castor-oil seeds: used in experimental cancer therapy

Origin of ricin

1
C19: from New Latin Ricinus genus name, from Latin: castor-oil plant

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 ricin

ricin

[ sĭn, rĭsĭn ]


  1. 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.