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cyanogenic

American  
[sahy-uh-noh-jen-ik, sahy-an-uh-] / ˌsaɪ ə noʊˈdʒɛn ɪk, saɪˌæn ə- /
Also cyanogenetic

adjective

Biology, Chemistry.

  1. capable of producing hydrogen cyanide.

Other Word Forms

  • cyanogenesis noun

Etymology

Origin of cyanogenic

cyanogen + -ic

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.

Some bamboo species contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide if the shoots are eaten raw or improperly prepared.

From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2026

The plant turned out to contain cyanogenic glucoside, a precursor to cyanide.

From Nature

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.