anti-cytotoxin
|an-ti-cy-to-tox-in|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.saɪˈtoʊ.tək.sɪn/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.saɪˈtɒk.sɪn/
counteracts cell poison
Etymology
'anti-cytotoxin' originates from Modern English, combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') with 'cytotoxin' (from Greek 'kytos' meaning 'cell' + 'toxikon' meaning 'poison').
'cytotoxin' was formed in modern scientific coinage from Greek roots 'cyto-' + 'toxin'; the compound 'anti-' + 'cytotoxin' (as a term for an agent acting against such toxins) emerged later in scientific and medical English usage.
Initially the roots literally conveyed 'against cell poison'; over time the compound came to be used as a technical term for an agent or property that neutralizes or inhibits cytotoxins.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance (for example, an antibody, antitoxin, or other agent) that neutralizes or counteracts a cytotoxin (a toxin that damages or kills cells).
Researchers isolated an anti-cytotoxin from the serum that neutralized the bacterial cytotoxin in vitro.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
acting against or inhibiting the effects of cytotoxins; having the property of neutralizing cytotoxins.
They developed an anti-cytotoxin therapy aimed at protecting tissues from toxin-induced damage.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/20 16:16