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strychnina

 - 5 dictionary results

strych⋅nine

  [strik-nin, -neen, -nahyn]
Use strychnina in a Sentence
–noun
1. Pharmacology. a colorless, crystalline poison, C2 1H2 2N2O2, obtained chiefly by extraction from the seeds of nux vomica, formerly used as a central nervous system stimulant.
2. an Indian tree, Strychnos nux-vomica, of the logania family, having small, yellowish-white flowers in clusters, berrylike fruit, and seeds that yield strychnine.
Also, strych⋅ni⋅a  [strik-nee-uh] , strych⋅ni⋅na  [strik-ni-nuh] .

Origin:
1810–20; < F, equiv. to NL Strychn(os) genus name (< Gk strýchnos a kind of nightshade) + F -ine -ine 2

Related forms:
strychnic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

strychnine 
1819, from Fr. strychnine, from Mod.L. Strychnos, the genus name of the plant (nux vomica) from which the poison is obtained, from Gk. strychnon, a kind of nightshade, of uncertain origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: strych·nine
Pronunciation: 'strik-"nIn, -n&n, -"nEn
Function: noun
: a bitter poisonous alkaloidC21H22N2O2 that is obtained from nux vomica and related plants of the genus Strychnos and is used as a poison (as for rodents) and medicinally as astimulant of the central nervous system
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

strychnine strych·nine (strĭk'nīn', -nĭn, -nēn')
n.
An extremely poisonous white crystalline alkaloid used as a poison for rodents and formerly used topically as a central nervous system stimulant.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
strychnine   (strĭk'nīn')  Pronunciation Key 
An extremely poisonous, white crystalline compound derived from the seeds of the nux vomica tree. Strychnine is an alkaloid and was formerly used in medicine to stimulate the nervous system. It is currently used as a rat poison. Chemical formula: C21H22O2N2.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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