ptomaine (n.)

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

    [ Syn: ptomain ]

  2. a term for food poisoning that is no longer in scientific use; food poisoning was once thought to be caused by ingesting ptomaines

    [ Syn: ptomaine poisoning ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.