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

But after discovering the ricin and manual they did not immediately make this public.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 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

Immunity of the same nature can be acquired in the same way against snake and scorpion poisons, and against certain vegetable toxins, e.g. ricin, abrin, &c.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy" by Various