Definition of alkaloid
: any of numerous usually colorless, complex, and bitter organic bases (such as morphine or caffeine) containing nitrogen and usually oxygen that occur especially in seed plants and are typically physiologically active
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Recent Examples of alkaloid from the Web
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The death cap mushroom, the cause of the 14 Bay Area cases in December, has toxic alkaloids that damage cells by halting protein synthesis.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alkaloid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of alkaloid
1820
Medical Dictionary
alkaloid
playMedical Definition of alkaloid
: any of numerous usually colorless, complex, and bitter organic bases (as morphine or caffeine) containing nitrogen and usually oxygen that occur especially in seed plants and are typically physiologically active
Learn More about alkaloid
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See words that rhyme with alkaloid Britannica English: Translation of alkaloid for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alkaloid
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