toxin

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Ancient Greek τόξον (tóxon) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek τοξῐκός (toxĭkós) Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón)der. Latin toxicum Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnusder. Old French -inbor. Middle English -in English -ineclip. English -in English toxin From Latin toxicum, equivalent to toxi- + -in.

1. A toxic substance, specifically a poison produced by the biological processes of organisms.

   “The blue-ringed octopus Hapalochlaena lunulata has tetrodotoxin, the deadly toxin it also releases in a bite, in their ink but the concentrations and effect in inking are not known.”

2. Synonym of toxicant: a toxic substance in a body requiring removal.