alkaloid

noun

al·ka·loid | \ ˈal-kə-ˌlȯid

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

Other Words from alkaloid Example Sentences Learn More about alkaloid

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of alkaloid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The malaria drug chloroquine was developed from quinine, an alkaloid found in the bark of the cinchona tree, which grows in the tropical highlands of South America. — Paige Williams, The New Yorker, "Trump’s Dangerous Messaging About a Possible Coronavirus Treatment," 27 Mar. 2020 Indeed, while solitarious locusts avoid eating toxic plants, the gregarious locusts are actually attracted to the odor of hyoscyamine, a toxic alkaloid found in local plants. — Matt Simon, Wired, "The Terrifying Science Behind the Locust Plagues of Africa," 5 Feb. 2020 Fatur cites several cases involving angry behavior associated with plants related to henbane, containing the same alkaloids. — Jennifer Ouellette, Wired, "How Vikings Went Into a Trancelike Rage Before Battle," 21 Sep. 2019 Fatur cites several cases involving angry behavior associated with plants related to henbane, containing the same alkaloids. — Jennifer Ouellette, Wired, "How Vikings Went Into a Trancelike Rage Before Battle," 21 Sep. 2019 Fatur cites several cases involving angry behavior associated with plants related to henbane, containing the same alkaloids. — Jennifer Ouellette, Wired, "How Vikings Went Into a Trancelike Rage Before Battle," 21 Sep. 2019 Fatur cites several cases involving angry behavior associated with plants related to henbane, containing the same alkaloids. — Jennifer Ouellette, Wired, "How Vikings Went Into a Trancelike Rage Before Battle," 21 Sep. 2019 Fatur cites several cases involving angry behavior associated with plants related to henbane, containing the same alkaloids. — Jennifer Ouellette, Wired, "How Vikings Went Into a Trancelike Rage Before Battle," 21 Sep. 2019 Cassell noted that many common foods can become toxic in large quantities — including nutmeg, which can become a hallucinogen or the alkaloids in potatoes, which can be toxic. — N'dea Yancey-bragg, USA TODAY, "Eating too much black licorice can be dangerous. Should you be worried this Halloween?," 31 Oct. 2019

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about alkaloid

Dictionary Entries near alkaloid

Statistics for alkaloid

Cite this Entry

“Alkaloid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alkaloid. Accessed 7 Mar. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for alkaloid

alkaloid

noun

al·ka·loid | \ ˈal-kə-ˌlȯid

Medical 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