Alkaloid

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Alkaloid \Al"ka*loid\ ([a^]l"k[.a]*loid), Alkaloidal
  \Al`ka*loid"al\ ([a^]l`k[.a]*loid"al), a. [Alkali + -oid: cf. F.
     alcalo["i]de.]
     1. Pertaining to, resembling, or containing, alkali.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. of or pertaining to alkaloids.
        [WordNet 1.5]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Alkaloid \Al"ka*loid\ ([a^]l"k[.a]*loid), n. (Chem.)
     An organic base, especially one of a class of
     nitrogen-containing substances occurring ready formed in the
     tissues of plants and the bodies of animals.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Alkaloids all contain nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen,
           and many of them also contain oxygen. They include many
           of the active principles in plants; thus, morphine and
           narcotine are alkaloids found in opium.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  alkaloid
       n : natural nitrogen-containing bases found in plants