Ptomaine

2 definitions found

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

  Ptomaine \Pto"ma*ine\, n. [From Gr. ? a dead body.] (Physiol.
     Chem.)
     One of a class of animal bases or alkaloids formed in the
     putrefaction of various kinds of albuminous matter, and
     closely related to the vegetable alkaloids; a cadaveric
     poison. The ptomaines, as a class, have their origin in dead


     matter, by which they are to be distinguished from the
     leucomaines.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ptomaine
       n 1: any of various amines (such as putrescine or cadaverine)
            formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria [syn: {ptomain}]
       2: a term for food poisoning that is no longer in scientific
          use; food poisoning was once thought to be caused by
          ingesting ptomaines [syn: {ptomaine poisoning}]