ptomaine

English Thesaurus

1. a term for food poisoning that is no longer in scientific use; food poisoning was once thought to be caused by ingesting ptomaines (noun.state)

hypernym	:	food poisoning, gastrointestinal disorder,
definition	:	illness caused by poisonous or contaminated food (noun.state)

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

hypernym	:	amine, aminoalkane,
definition	:	a compound derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms by univalent hydrocarbon radicals (noun.substance)

hyponym	:	putrescine,
definition	:	a colorless crystalline ptomaine with a foul odor that is produced in decaying animal matter (noun.substance)

hyponym	:	cadaverine,
definition	:	a colorless toxic ptomaine with an unpleasant odor formed during the putrefaction of animal tissue (noun.substance)