antimetabolite

[ an-tee-muh-tab-uh-lahyt, an-tahy- ]

/ ˌæn ti məˈtæb əˌlaɪt, ˌæn taɪ- /

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noun

Biochemistry. any substance that interferes with growth of an organism by competing with or substituting for an essential nutrient in an enzymatic process.

adjective

Pharmacology. of or relating to certain substances used to prevent or reduce the proliferation of cells, especially cancer cells, by interfering with normal metabolic activity.

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Also an·ti·met·a·bol·ic

[an-tee-met-uh-bol-ik, an-tahy-]. /ˌæn tiˌmɛt əˈbɒl ɪk, ˌæn taɪ-/.

Origin of antimetabolite

First recorded in 1940–45; anti- + metabolite

Words nearby antimetabolite

antimasque, antimatter, antimension, antimere, antimeridian, antimetabolite, antimicrobial, antimilitant, antimissile, antimissile missile, antimitotic

British Dictionary definitions for antimetabolite

antimetabolite

/ (ˌæntɪmɪˈtæbəˌlaɪt) /

noun

any drug that acts by disrupting the normal growth of a cell. Sulfonamide drugs are antimetabolites and some antimetabolites are used in cancer treatment

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

Medical definitions for antimetabolite

antimetabolite

[ ăn′tē-mĭ-tăb′ə-līt′, ăn′tī- ]

A substance that closely resembles an essential metabolite and competes with, interferes with, or replaces the metabolite in physiological reactions.