amygdalin

noun

amyg·​da·​lin ə-ˈmig-də-lən 

: a white crystalline cyanogenic glucoside C₂₀H₂₇NO₁₁ found especially in the seeds of the apricot, peach, and bitter almond compare laetrile

Examples of amygdalin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In reality, apricot pits contain amygdalin, a compound that turns into cyanide in the body. — Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 3 Sep. 2025

All About His Life After Belle Gibson's Crimes According to WebMD, apricot seeds contain the compound amygdalin, which was once sold as an anti-cancer treatment called laetrile in the 1940s. — Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025

These almonds have a high content of amygdalin, and consuming this chemical may be highly toxic for humans. — USA TODAY, 4 July 2023

This is not the first time Jason Vale has been accused of selling laetrile, another name for amygdalin. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2019

Known to scientists as amygdalin, the toxin is a type of chemical compound called a cyanogenic glucoside. — Jennifer Leman, Scientific American, 13 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

Latin amygdala

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for amygdalin

• befallen
• crestfallen
• tarpaulin
• cauline
• fallen
• paulin
• pollen

Medical Definition

amygdalin

noun

amyg·​da·​lin ə-ˈmig-də-lən 

: a white crystalline cyanogenic glucoside C₂₀H₂₇NO₁₁ found especially in the seeds of the apricot, peach, and bitter almond