cytotoxin

1 7.9

A substance that kills or damages cells

noun
/ˌsaɪtəˈtɒksɪn/

Specialized

: citosotoxina

Researchers are studying how cytotoxins affect normal cell function in the human body.

Examples

The infection rate is extremely high, and don't forget, we haven't succeeded in controIIing the cytotoxin's reaction to oxygen yet.

Zombie Massacre (2013)
Certain bacteria release cytotoxins that can lead to severe tissue damage and cell death.
The presence of cytotoxins in the sample indicates a potential health risk to nearby cells.

Synonyms

toxin

vscytotoxin

Specialized

143 5.3

A poisonous substance that some animals, plants, or bacteria make

is harmful specifically to cells rather than any general poisonous substance

cytolysin

vscytotoxin

Specialized

9.9

A substance that breaks open animal cells by damaging their cell membrane

is toxic to cells without specifying membrane disruption

How Toxic

cytotoxin

Specialized

1 7.9

toxin

Specialized

143 5.3

Surface Forms

cytotoxin singular

cytotoxins plural

Morphology

cytotoxin = toxin (semi-transparent) = cyto + toxin + cyto

Formally composed from the combining form 'cyto-' (cell) and 'toxin'; the meaning 'toxin acting on cells' is compositionally clear in biomedical contexts but may be unfamiliar to general B1 learners.

Etymology

Cytotoxin comes from two parts: cyto- meaning 'cell' and toxin meaning 'poison'. So, a cytotoxin is literally a 'cell poison', which is why it damages or kills cells.