endotoxin
/ˌɛndoʊˈtɑksɪn/
noun
- A toxin that is inside a bacterium and is released when the bacterium is destroyed, often causing fever or illness in humans and animals.
- Endotoxins in contaminated water can make people very sick.
- Scientists study how endotoxins trigger inflammation in the body.
- The patient's fever was caused by an endotoxin released from the bacteria.