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alkaloid

Pronunciation: /ˈalkəlɔɪd/

Definition of alkaloid

noun

Chemistry
  • any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds of plant origin which have pronounced physiological actions on humans. They include many drugs (morphine, quinine) and poisons (atropine, strychnine).

Origin:

early 19th century: coined in German from alkali

alkaloid in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of alkaloid in the US English dictionary