botulinum toxin
1
7.5
- noun
- /ˌbɑːtʃəˈlaɪnəm ˈtɑːksɪn/
- Specialized
:
toxina botulínica
- Doctors often use botulinum toxin to treat patients with severe muscle spasms.
Examples
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Yet, physicians inject botulinum toxin (a.k.a. Botox) into people's faces to smooth out wrinkles.
Blog text (13) -
One of the most deadly toxins known to humans is the botulinum toxin.
Blog text (13) -
Although there have been no reports of the use of botulinum toxin for middle ear myoclonus, this may emerge as a treatment option in the future.
Academic text (1998) -
In addition, the indications for using botulinum toxin A (Botox) in the larynx have expanded during the past decade.
Academic text (2004) -
The first was that Yuri had yet to test the botulinum toxin, although he was more confident of its toxicity than he'd been about the pathogenicity of the anthrax powder.
Fiction book (1999) -
Many celebrities have opted for cosmetic procedures involving botulinum toxin to reduce facial wrinkles.
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The use of botulinum toxin in small doses can effectively help alleviate chronic migraines.
Synonyms
140
5.3
A poisonous substance that some animals, plants, or bacteria make
42
4.6
A medicine doctors inject to relax face muscles and reduce wrinkles
1
9.9
A very strong poison made by bacteria that causes deadly food poisoning
1
3.9
A poisonous substance made by bacteria that they release or keep inside their cells
A dangerous poison made by bacteria that stops muscles from working and can kill, used in tiny medical doses
A very strong poison made by bacteria that causes a serious illness of the nerves
A medicine made from germs that relaxes muscles to treat muscle tightness and reduce wrinkles
How Effective
- Specialized
1
7.5
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
7.5
- Specialized
5
3.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'botulinum' names the bacterium and 'toxin' names a harmful substance, so a learner who knows both constituents will infer it is the toxin produced by botulinum. Although medically specific, the noun+noun pattern 'X toxin' transparently signals 'the toxin of X', making the phrase predictable from its parts.
Etymology
Botulinum toxin: The name botulinum comes from an old Latin word for 'sausage' because the bacteria were first linked to food poisoning from spoiled sausages. Because this toxin can stop muscles from working, doctors now use tiny amounts of botulinum toxin in medicine to relax muscles for treatment and cosmetic use.