anabasine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (C2+)Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “anabasine” mean?
A toxic, liquid alkaloid found in certain plants, particularly tobacco and the Anabasis genus, with insecticidal properties.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A toxic, liquid alkaloid found in certain plants, particularly tobacco and the Anabasis genus, with insecticidal properties.
A chemical compound used in scientific research, particularly in neurobiology, as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, and historically as a botanical insecticide.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or spelling. Pronunciation may vary slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
None beyond its technical scientific meaning.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, confined to specialist literature.
Grammar
How to Use “anabasine” in a Sentence
The [plant] contains anabasine.Anabasine acts as a [receptor agonist/insecticide].Researchers isolated anabasine from [source].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anabasine” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The anabasine solution was prepared for the assay.
American English
- They observed an anabasine-like effect in the neurons.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Primary context: describing a chemical compound's structure, origin, or biological activity.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anabasine”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anabasine”
- Misspelling as 'anabasin' or 'anabazine'.
- Mispronouncing with stress on the first syllable (AN-abasine).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is toxic and can cause poisoning similar to nicotine overdose if ingested or absorbed in significant quantities.
It is naturally produced by plants in the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, such as tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), and some plants in the genus Anabasis.
Its primary modern use is as a research chemical in neuroscience. Historically, it was used as a natural insecticide.
They are structurally similar alkaloids that both act as agonists on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the nervous system.
A toxic, liquid alkaloid found in certain plants, particularly tobacco and the Anabasis genus, with insecticidal properties.
Anabasine is usually technical/scientific in register.
Anabasine: in British English it is pronounced /əˈnabəsiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈnæbəˌsiːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANAlogue of BASIc NICotine' -> ANABASINE. It's a chemical cousin to nicotine found in plants.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (Highly technical term)
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'anabasine' primarily used?