TERATOGEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does teratogen mean? 

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

1. any agent that interferes with normal embryonic development: alcohol or thalidomide or X-rays or rubella are examples

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• TERATOGEN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any agent that interferes with normal embryonic development: alcohol or thalidomide or X-rays or rubella are examples

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

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

agent (an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect)

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

thalidomide (a sedative and hypnotic drug; withdrawn from sale after discovered to cause severe birth defects because it inhibits angiogenesis)

Derivation:

teratogenic (of or relating to substances or agents that can interfere with normal embryonic development)

 Context examples 

This toxin is used in research as an experimental teratogen and carcinogen.

(Ochratoxin A, NCI Thesaurus)

Phosphoramide mustards are also immunosuppressants, mutagens and teratogens.

(Phosphoramide Mustard, NCI Thesaurus)

These compounds are also powerful mutagens, teratogens, immunosuppressants, and carcinogens.

(Nitrogen Mustard Compound, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine is used in laboratory research as an experimental mutagen, teratogen and carcinogen.

(N-Methyl-N-nitro-N-Nitrosoguanidine, NCI Thesaurus)

A trichothecene mycotoxin and potent teratogen.

(Anguidine, NCI Thesaurus)

Health hazards at home, in the work place, or in nature (e.g., infectious agents, irritants, respiratory fibrotic agents, asphyxiants, allergens, metabolic poisons, physical agents, mutagens, teratogens, and carcinogens).

(Environmental Risk Factor, NCI Thesaurus)

A well-known teratogen and carcinogen, diethylstilbestrol inhibits the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, thereby blocking the testicular synthesis of testosterone, lowering plasma testosterone, and inducing a chemical castration.

(Diethylstilbestrol, NCI Thesaurus)