capsaicin
[kap-sey-uh-sin]
- a colorless, crystalline, bitter compound, C18H27NO3, present in capsicum.
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Origin of capsaicin
1885–90; earlier capsicine, equivalent to capsic(um) + -ine2; refashioned with capsa- (< Latin: box) for caps- and -in2 for -ine2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for capsaicin
Contemporary Examples
And contrary to the belief that eating spicy foods can cause stomach ulcers, capsaicin is reported to hold digestive benefits.
Historical Examples
Its discoverer states that capsaicin occurs only in the pericarp of the fruit.
The chief constituents are a crystallizable resin, capsaicin, a volatile alkaloid, capsicine and a volatile oil.
capsaicin
- a colourless crystalline bitter alkaloid found in capsicums and used as a flavouring in vinegar and pickles. Formula: C 18 H 27 O 3 N
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Word Origin
C19 capsicine, from capsicum + -ine ²; modern form refashioned from Latin capsa box, case + -in
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
Word Origin and History for capsaicin
from capsicum, from which it is extracted + chemical suffixes.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
capsaicin
(kăp-sā′ĭ-sĭn)- A colorless, pungent, crystalline compound that is derived from the capsicum pepper and is a strong irritant to skin and mucous membranes.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
capsaicin
[kăp-sā′ĭ-sĭn]
- A colorless, extremely pungent, crystalline compound that is the primary active principle producing the heat of red peppers. It is a strong irritant to skin and mucous membranes and is used in medicine as a topical analgesic. Capsaicin is highly stable, retaining its potency for long periods and despite cooking or freezing. Chemical formula: C18H27NO3.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.