alkaloid

Definitions


[ˈalkəlɔɪd], (Noun)

Definitions:
- 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)


Phrases:

Origin:
early 19th century: coined in German from alkali




definition by Oxford Dictionaries