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Browse the Medical Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

nicotine

Main Entry:: nic·o·tine
Pronunciation:: \ˈnik-ə-ˌtēn\
Function:: noun

: a poisonous alkaloid C₁₀H₁₄N₂ that is the chief active principle of tobacco and that is used as an insecticide

Ni·cot \nē-kō\

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, Jean (1530?–1600), French diplomat. While French ambassador to Portugal, Nicot introduced tobacco to France by sending tobacco seeds as a gift to the French court in 1560. Linnaeus named the plant genus Nicotiana in his honor in 1753.

Learn more about "nicotine" and related topics at Britannica.com

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