This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
capsaicin
[ kap-sey-uh-sin ]
/ kæpˈseɪ ə sɪn /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
a colorless, crystalline, bitter compound, C18H27NO3, present in capsicum.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of capsaicin
1885–90; earlier capsicine, equivalent to capsic(um) + -ine2; refashioned with capsa- (<Latin: box) for caps- and -in2 for -ine2
Words nearby capsaicin
caproic acid, caprolactam, caprylic, caprylic acid, caps., capsaicin, cap screw, Capsian, capsicum, capsid, capsize
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use capsaicin in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for capsaicin
capsaicin
/ (kæpˈseɪɪsɪn) /
noun
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
Word Origin for capsaicin
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
Scientific definitions for capsaicin
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.