antitoxin

American  

[an-ti-tok-sin, an-tee-] / ˌæn tɪˈtɒk sɪn, ˌæn ti- /

noun

1. a substance, formed in the body, that counteracts a specific toxin.

2. the antibody formed in immunization with a given toxin, used in treating certain infectious diseases or in immunizing against them.

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antitoxin British  

/ ˌæntɪˈtɒksɪn /

noun

1. an antibody that neutralizes a toxin

2. blood serum that contains a specific antibody

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antitoxin Scientific  

/ ăn′tē-tŏk′sĭn,ăn′tī- /

1. An antibody formed in response to and capable of neutralizing a specific toxin of biological origin.

2. Compare toxin

3. An animal or human serum containing antitoxins, used to prevent or treat diseases caused by biological toxins, such as tetanus, botulism, and diphtheria.

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Other Word Forms

• antitoxic adjective

Etymology

Origin of antitoxin

First recorded in 1890–95; anti- + toxin

Example Sentences

There is an antitoxin that doctors can give.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2024

Sled dog teams, including Balto’s, transported vials of diphtheria antitoxin in a 674-mile relay from Nenana, Alaska, braving intense winds and wind-chill temperatures of –85 degrees Fahrenheit.

From Scientific American • Apr. 27, 2023

As diphtheria - a serious and sometimes fatal bacterial infection - spread among Nome's people, its port was icebound, meaning antitoxin would have to be delivered overland.

From Reuters • Apr. 27, 2023

In February 1925, in the midst of a diphtheria outbreak, a relay of sled dog teams delivered an emergency supply of antitoxin to Nome, Alaska, which had been isolated by snow.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

The use of antitoxin, which prevents annually many thousands of deaths from diphtheria, does not help us in many other diseases.

From Proceedings of the Second National Conservation Congress at Saint Paul, September 5-8, 1910 by United States. National Conservation Congress