Poisonous substances produced naturally by living organisms, including bacteria, plants, and animals. These harmful compounds can cause disease, injury, or death when introduced into other organisms.
From Greek 'toxikon' meaning 'poison for arrows,' derived from 'toxon' meaning 'bow.' The ancient Greeks used the term for poison applied to arrow tips in warfare and hunting, later expanded to mean any poisonous substance produced by living things.
The word 'toxin' literally means 'arrow poison,' reflecting ancient warfare where the deadliest weapons combined projectile technology with biological chemistry. Modern understanding of toxins has revolutionized medicine, leading to both life-saving antidotes and therapeutic uses of controlled poison doses.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.