alkaloid

noun al·ka·loid \ ˈal-kə-ˌlȯid \

|Updated on: 20 May 2018

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

—

alkaloidal

play \ˌal-kə-ˈlȯi-dᵊl\ adjective

Recent Examples of alkaloid from the Web

Sandoz scientists isolated a dozen ergot alkaloids in the hope of finding a few that might prove therapeutic.

— ellen ruppel shell, BostonGlobe.com, "Take a hit of acid and call me in the morning," 11 May 2018
The kicker is this drink’s concentration of theobromine, which is an alkaloid that acts similarly to caffeine (stimulating) but without the actual caffeine (or acidity) of coffee.

— rachelle robinett, Bon Appetit, "7 Ways to Get the Healthy, Chocolatey Goodness of Cacao into Your Diet," 27 Sep. 2017
The syllabus includes the history of medicinal plant use and cannabis chemistry, along with a lab in which students will perform plant tissue extraction for alkaloids and terpenoids and study purification procedures of different plants.

— author: amber ferguson, Alaska Dispatch News, "Finally, a degree in marijuana. But it’s not for stoners or slackers.," 23 Oct. 2017
The syllabus includes the history of medicinal plant use and cannabis chemistry, along with a lab in which students will perform plant tissue extraction for alkaloids and terpenoids and study purification procedures of different plants.

— amber ferguson, Washington Post, "Finally, a degree in marijuana: But it’s not for stoners or slackers.," 23 Oct. 2017
The first of these alkaloids, isolated by a German chemist in the early 1800s, was none other than morphine.

— maya wei-haas, Smithsonian, "The Unlikely Medical History of Chocolate Syrup," 6 Sep. 2017
Chicory’s flavor comes from alkaloids (the same plant chemical that makes caffeine taste bitter).

— christine buckley, Bon Appetit, "How to "Cleanse" Without Cutting Anything Out," 24 Aug. 2017
Chicory’s flavor comes from alkaloids (the same plant chemical that makes caffeine taste bitter).

— christine buckley, Bon Appetit, "How to "Cleanse" Without Cutting Anything Out," 24 Aug. 2017
The death cap mushroom, the cause of the 14 Bay Area cases in December, has toxic alkaloids that damage cells by halting protein synthesis.

— denis cuff, The Mercury News, "Serious toxic mushroom poisonings hitting Bay Area hard," 7 June 2017

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

in the meaning defined above

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Medical Dictionary

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

—

alkaloidal

play \ˌal-kə-ˈlȯid-ᵊl\ adjective

Learn More about alkaloid

See words that rhyme with alkaloid Britannica English: Translation of alkaloid for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alkaloid

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alkaloid

Definition of alkaloid

alkaloidal

Recent Examples of alkaloid from the Web

First Known Use of alkaloid

Medical Dictionary

alkaloid

medical Definition of alkaloid

alkaloidal

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alkaloid

Definition of alkaloid

alkaloidal

Recent Examples of alkaloid from the Web

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alkaloid

medical Definition of alkaloid

alkaloidal

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