actinomycin

American

[ak-tin-oh-mahy-sin, ak-tuh-noh-] / ækˌtɪn oʊˈmaɪ sɪn, ˌæk tə noʊ- /

noun

Pharmacology.

any of a group of related antibiotics derived from several species of streptomyces bacteria, used against susceptible bacteria and fungi and in the treatment of various cancers.

actinomycin British

/ ˌæktɪnəʊˈmaɪsɪn /

noun

any of several toxic antibiotics obtained from bacteria of the genus Streptomyces, used in treating some cancers; the most commonly used is dactinomycin (actinomycin D)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of actinomycin

actinomyc(es) + -in ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

actinomycin

Dr. Woodruff was able to isolate two microbes, culture them and purify the antibiotics they produced: first actinomycin, which he found could inhibit tuberculosis, and later streptothricin.

From New York Times ● Feb. 3, 2017

Called actinomycin, it proved too poisonous for clinical use.

From Time Magazine Archive

So virulent that one milligram could kill a large chicken, actinomycin seemed far too dangerous ever to try on humans.

From Time Magazine Archive

Working with fungus cultures, they isolated actinomycin C, a new form of the original antibiotic.

From Time Magazine Archive

The technique is not without its hazards; actinomycin D increases skin reactions to radiation.

From Time Magazine Archive

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023