CAPSAICIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does capsaicin mean? 

• CAPSAICIN (noun)
  The noun CAPSAICIN has 1 sense:

1. colorless pungent crystalline compound derived from capsicum; source of the hotness of hot peppers of the genus Capsicum such as chili and cayenne and jalapeno

  Familiarity information: CAPSAICIN used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CAPSAICIN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Colorless pungent crystalline compound derived from capsicum; source of the hotness of hot peppers of the genus Capsicum such as chili and cayenne and jalapeno

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("capsaicin" is a kind of...):

chemical irritant (a substance producing irritation)

Holonyms ("capsaicin" is a substance of...):

capsicum; capsicum pepper plant; pepper (any of various tropical plants of the genus Capsicum bearing peppers)

 Context examples 

Capsaicin is a neuropeptide releasing agent selective for primary sensory peripheral neurons.

(Capsaicin, NCI Thesaurus)

One was a placebo, which had no effect, and the other contained capsaicin, the ingredient that makes chili peppers hot and causes inflammation, as seen with sunburns.

(Study identifies gene that makes gentle touch feel painful after injury, National Institutes of Health)

In addition, capsaicin may be useful in controlling chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced mucositis.

(Capsaicin, NCI Thesaurus)

The researchers found stark differences between how the capsaicin affected control participants and ones with mutations in PIEZO2.

(Study identifies gene that makes gentle touch feel painful after injury, National Institutes of Health)

Used topically, capsaicin aids in controlling peripheral nerve pain.

(Capsaicin, NCI Thesaurus)

In contrast, the participants with the PIEZO2 mutation felt no difference between the areas where capsaicin and placebo had been applied.

(Study identifies gene that makes gentle touch feel painful after injury, National Institutes of Health)

Swiping a cotton swab around the capsaicin patch consistently caused control participants to feel pain, which allowed each one to correctly identify where the inflammation was even though they could not see their arms.

(Study identifies gene that makes gentle touch feel painful after injury, National Institutes of Health)