neurotoxin

American

[noor-oh-tok-sin, nyoor-, noor-oh-tok-, nyoor-] / ˈnʊər oʊˌtɒk sɪn, ˈnyʊər-, ˌnʊər oʊˈtɒk-, ˌnyʊər- /

noun

a neurotoxic substance, as rattlesnake venom or the poison of a black widow spider.

neurotoxin British

/ ˌnjʊərəʊˈtɒksɪn /

noun

any of several natural substances that interfere with the electrical activities of nerves, thus preventing them from functioning

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

neurotoxic adjective

Etymology

Origin of neurotoxin

First recorded in 1900–05; neuro- + toxin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"A neurotoxin, a radioactive substance, or a toxic substance is much more frightening than an explosive or being shot to death."

From Barron's

Epibatidine is a natural neurotoxin isolated from the skin of the Ecuadorian poison dart frog, according to toxicology expert Jill Johnson.

From BBC

"In one experiment, we use a neurotoxin to disable the sympathetic nervous system," Nigri says.

From Science Daily

His doctors are concerned about neurotoxins from the bullet, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Saxitoxins belong to a group of closely related neurotoxins that are considered among the most powerful naturally occurring toxins.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023