toxin
TOK-sin
/ˈtɒksɪn/
A poison of plant or animal origin, especially one produced by or derived from microorganisms and acting as an antigen in the body.
Specifically refers to poisons produced by living organisms, rather than synthetic chemicals.
The story behind the word. It traces back to the Greek 'toxikon pharmakon', meaning 'poison for arrows'. The word 'toxon' actually meant 'bow', but over time, the focus shifted from the weapon to the deadly substance smeared upon its tips.
Word relationships
- poison: Poison is a general term; toxin is specifically biological in origin.
- venom: Venom is a toxin that is injected (e.g., by a snake), while toxins are usually ingested or absorbed.
- antitoxin: An antibody that counteracts a specific toxin.
Commonly confused with
- pathogen: The pathogen is the 'factory' (the germ); the toxin is the 'product' (the poison) it creates.
Word family
- toxic (adjective): Poisonous.
- toxicity (noun): The quality of being toxic or poisonous.
Collocations
- deadly toxin
- bacterial toxin
- toxin production
- eliminate toxins
Example sentences
- "The botulinum toxin is one of the most poisonous substances known to man." Medical toxicology
- "Cooking does not always destroy the toxin produced by certain types of mold." Food safety warning
Memory hook
A toxin is like a 'toxic' 'in'-vader in your body. Arrow poison.
When not to use
Do not use for man-made chemicals like pesticides; use 'toxicant' or 'poison' instead.
Fun facts
- The word 'intoxicated' literally means 'poisoned', referring to the effects of alcohol on the body.
Related words
Also appears in
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