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ricin

American

[rahy-sin, ris-in] / ˈraɪ sɪn, ˈrɪs ɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

a white, poisonous, protein powder from the bean of the castor-oil plant.

ricin British

/ ˈrɪs-, ˈraɪsɪn /

noun

biochem a highly toxic protein, a lectin, derived from castor-oil seeds: used in experimental cancer therapy

"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

ricin Scientific

/ rī′sĭn,rĭs′ĭn /

An extremely poisonous protein extracted from the castor bean. Ricin inhibits protein synthesis in cells, and is used as a biochemical reagent and in cancer research.

Etymology

Origin of ricin

1895–1900; < New Latin Ricinus name of genus, Latin: castor-oil plant

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.

She believes it came into contact with the ricin.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2025

Castor plants are banned in the U.S. because they also produce ricin, a dangerous poison.

From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2024

He said that it is virtually impossible for someone to manufacture ricin at home in a way for it to be used as a lethal weapon.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2024

Arsenic, ricin and the toxin responsible for botulism are also 100% natural, but can be highly toxic to humans.

From Salon • Jul. 26, 2023

That day The chemical analysis was finished, showed No ricin and no poison.

From Domesday Book by Masters, Edgar Lee

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