toxin

Everyday

A toxin is a poison, especially one made by a living thing such as a plant, animal, fungus or germ. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, snakes, spiders, jellyfish and some frogs make toxins; bacteria can make toxins that cause food poisoning. Toxic means poisonous. In safety lessons, do not touch or eat unknown mushrooms, berries or animals. In everyday adverts, people talk about removing toxins from the body, which is often a myth.

Examples

• Some frogs have toxins in their skin. tree →
• Bee stings contain a mild toxin. tree →
• The bacteria made a toxin that caused food poisoning. tree →
• The puffer fish has a deadly toxin. tree →
• Plants make toxins to stop animals eating them. tree →
• The liver cleans toxins from the blood. tree →

Note

Countable: a toxin, toxins. Related: toxic (adjective), toxicity. Myth: detox drinks and foot pads do not really pull toxins out; your liver and kidneys do that. A venom is a toxin that is injected by a bite or sting.