alkaloidn.adj.
/ˈalkəlɔɪd/, U.S. /ˈælkəˌlɔɪd/ Chemistry.
A. n.
A naturally occurring organic compound having alkaline or basic properties; (now chiefly) spec. any of a numerous class of complex nitrogenous compounds of plant origin having marked physiological, sometimes toxic, actions on humans, and including atropine, caffeine, cocaine, morphine, nicotine, and strychnine. Frequently with distinguishing word.opium, rauwolfia, vegetable, vinca alkaloid, etc.: see the first element.
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the world > matter > chemistry > organic chemistry > alkaloids > [noun]
alkaloid1824
1824 Lancet 13 Nov. 212/4 (table) This [sc. strychnine] is the most active poison of all the vegetable alcaloids.
1829 R. Christison Treat. Poisons 19 Morphia, the alkaloid of opium.
1878 C. T. Kingzett Animal Chem. 302 Harnack has found in the red fungus which yields muscarine another alkaloid which he terms amanitine.
1887 A. M. Brown Treat. Animal Alkaloids iii. ii. 142 Intoxication by the animal alkaloids is accompanied by hypothermia.
1929 H. A. A. Nicholls & J. H. Holland Text-bk. Trop. Agric. (ed. 2) ii. xi. 344 Cinchona... The root bark, which is always the richest in alkaloids.
1974 A. Freeman in M. Lichtiger & F. Moya Introd. Pract. of Anesthesia xxvii. 334 A barbiturate combined with a narcotic and a belladonna alkaloid produces suitable preanesthetic sedation in most children.
1996 R. Mabey Flora Britannica 303/1 A mixture of nightshade family alkaloids such as atropine and hyoscine.
2002 P. Thomas What works, what Doesn't x. 136 Hydrastine (another alkaloid in goldenseal) stimulates the central nervous system, and..in animals large doses have caused death.
B. adj.
attributive. Of the nature of an alkaloid; containing an alkaloid or alkaloids.
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the world > matter > chemistry > organic chemistry > alkaloids > [adjective]
alkaloid1829
alkaloidal1835
1824 Edinb. Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 21 Index 497 [Analysis] of the vegetable alkaloid principles.]
1829 Edinb. Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 32 112 The medicine most to be depended on is the cinchona, or its alkaloid salt.
1882 T. Stevenson in Echo 11 Mar. 3/2 An alkaloid extract which contained a trace of morphia.
1934 Science 14 Dec. 11/1 A research laboratory was established..for chemical analysis and synthesis of alkaloid substances.
1970 R. Passmore & J. S. Robson Compan. Med. Stud. II. v. 48/2 It is widely believed that there is no therapeutic advantage in using mixed alkaloid preparations from opium.
2006 Smithsonian July 85/1 Bauer treated young seedlings with colchicine, an alkaloid compound in meadow saffron, to increase the number of chromosomes.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.adj.1824