PTOMAINE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ptomaine mean? 

• PTOMAINE (noun)
  The noun PTOMAINE has 2 senses:

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

2. a term for food poisoning that is no longer in scientific use; food poisoning was once thought to be caused by ingesting ptomaines

  Familiarity information: PTOMAINE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PTOMAINE (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 ("ptomaine" 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 "ptomaine"):

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A term for food poisoning that is no longer in scientific use; food poisoning was once thought to be caused by ingesting ptomaines

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

ptomaine; ptomaine poisoning

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

food poisoning; gastrointestinal disorder (illness caused by poisonous or contaminated food)