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Glite Dictionary
cyanogenic

cyanogenic

1 9.9
Able to make cyanide, a very strong poison found in some plants
  • adjective
  • /ˌsaɪəˈnɒdʒɪk/
  • Specialized
: cianogénico
  • Many plants in the bean family are cyanogenic and can release cyanide when damaged.

Examples

  • Some plants are cyanogenic and can produce cyanide when damaged.

  • The seeds of some fruits are cyanogenic and should not be consumed in large quantities.

  • Cassava roots are cyanogenic, necessitating careful processing to make them safe to eat.

  • The cyanogenic compounds in cassava must be processed properly.

  • Certain plants, like cassava, are known to be cyanogenic and can produce cyanide when not prepared correctly.

  • Some seeds contain cyanogenic compounds that can release toxic cyanide if ingested in large amounts.

  • The seeds of some fruits are cyanogenic, which means they can produce cyanide if not processed properly.

Synonyms

cyanogenetic
vscyanogenic
  • Specialized
9.9

Can make cyanide when eaten or broken down

specifies enzyme-driven breakdown as the typical cause of cyanide formation

Surface Forms

cyanogenic positive

Morphology

cyanogenic = cyanogen (semi-transparent) = cyanogen + ic

Formation by suffixation from the technical noun 'cyanogen' is straightforward, but 'cyanogen' itself is a specialized chemical term so the meaning is only partly transparent to average learners.

Etymology

Cyanogenic comes from cyano- meaning 'blue', as in the color 'cyan', and -genic meaning 'producing' or 'making'. So cyanogenic literally means 'producing cyanide', and it describes substances or plants that can make the poison cyanide when they break down.