ˈtäksə̇n noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary tox- (I) + -in
: any of various poisonous substances that are specific products of the metabolic activities of living organisms, are colloidal substances related to proteins and usually very unstable, are notably toxic when introduced into the tissues but are almost all destroyed by the digestive juices, and are typically capable of inducing antibody formation in suitable animals — see antitoxin , endotoxin , exotoxin ; compare abrin , ptomaine , ricin , venom
Synonyms: see poison