ptomaine
/ˈtoʊmeɪn/
noun
- A substance (formerly thought to be a poison) produced by bacteria in decaying food, often causing food poisoning.
- The doctor explained that ptomaine is not a single toxin but a group of compounds from spoiled food.
- Before modern food safety, people often blamed ptomaine for stomach illnesses.
- The old fish was full of ptomaine and made everyone sick.
Antonyms