PTOMAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ptomain mean? 

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

1. any of various amines (such as putrescine or cadaverine) formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• PTOMAIN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of various amines (such as putrescine or cadaverine) formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

ptomain; ptomaine

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

amine; aminoalkane (a compound derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms by univalent hydrocarbon radicals)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ptomain"):

putrescine (a colorless crystalline ptomaine with a foul odor that is produced in decaying animal matter)

cadaverine (a colorless toxic ptomaine with an unpleasant odor formed during the putrefaction of animal tissue)