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Glite Dictionary
ricin toxin

ricin toxin

9.9
A very deadly poison from castor beans that can kill people
  • noun
  • /ˈraɪsɪn ˈtɒksɪn/
  • NSFW
translation icon : toxina de ricino
  • Scientists must handle ricin toxin with extreme caution due to its lethal nature.

Examples

  • The ricin toxin is extremely dangerous.

  • Authorities found evidence of ricin toxin being prepared for use in a potential biological attack.

  • Accidental ingestion of ricin toxin can result in severe organ failure or even death.

  • Scientists study ricin toxins for their effects on human health.

  • Authorities discovered traces of ricin toxin in the suspect's home during the investigation.

  • The laboratory was equipped to handle ricin toxin, which requires strict safety protocols.

  • Scientists researched the effects of ricin toxin on living cells to understand its harmful properties.

Synonyms

ricin
vsricin toxin
  • NSFW
12 9.9

A very poisonous protein from the seeds of the castor plant that can kill people if swallowed or breathed

is the variant that stresses reagent use and known bioweapon potential

Surface Forms

ricin toxin singular
ricin toxins plural

Morphology

ricin + toxin

The meaning is directly compositional: 'ricin' names the substance/source and 'toxin' indicates a poisonous substance, so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a poisonous protein derived from ricin/castor beans. This follows a common noun+noun naming pattern for substances and is therefore immediately understandable to learners who know the constituents.

Etymology

Ricin toxin gets its name from the Latin word 'ricinus', which means 'tick', because a castor bean looks like a small tick. So the very dangerous poison made from those beans became known as ricin, and ricin toxin now means the deadly poison from castor beans.