ricin

American  

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

noun

Chemistry.

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

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ricin British  

/ ˈrɪs-, ˈraɪsɪn /

noun

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

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ricin Scientific  

/ rī′sĭn,rĭs′ĭn /

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of ricin

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

Example Sentences

Ministers had been kept informed of these developments, but another three months would pass before the police publicly announced the discovery of the ricin and the al-Qaeda manual.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2025

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

From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 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

But it was unlikely that the chalk used to etch a polite message of protest outside her Bangor home on Saturday—urging her to vote for the Women’s Health Protection Act—was tainted with ricin.

From Slate • May 14, 2022

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

From Domesday Book by Masters, Edgar Lee