curarine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very Low Frequency (Specialist)Technical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “curarine” mean?
A toxic alkaloid originally obtained from plants of the genus Strychnos, used to poison arrows and, in purified form, as a muscle relaxant in medicine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A toxic alkaloid originally obtained from plants of the genus Strychnos, used to poison arrows and, in purified form, as a muscle relaxant in medicine.
Specifically, the alkaloid d-tubocurarine, a potent neuromuscular blocking agent that induces paralysis by competitively blocking acetylcholine receptors at the motor end-plate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in technical meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Purely technical/scientific in both variants.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside pharmacology, toxicology, anaesthesiology, and historical contexts. Identical low frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “curarine” in a Sentence
Curarine [verb: blocks, inhibits, causes] + [noun: transmission, contraction, paralysis].The [noun: action, effect, mechanism] of curarine + [prepositional phrase: on the end-plate].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in pharmacology, physiology, medical history, and toxicology papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in anaesthesiology and related medical fields for a specific class of drug.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “curarine”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “curarine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “curarine”
- Using 'curarine' to refer to the general plant poison (curare).
- Misspelling as 'curaine' or 'currarine'.
- Assuming it is a general term for any muscle relaxant.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Curare is a crude, resinous extract from certain South American plants. Curarine (specifically d-tubocurarine) is one of the active alkaloid compounds isolated from that extract.
Pure d-tubocurarine is rarely used now. It has been largely replaced by safer, synthetic analogues with fewer side effects, but it remains historically significant and is the prototype for non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking agents.
Yes. In sufficient doses, it causes paralysis of all skeletal muscles, including those required for breathing, leading to respiratory arrest and death if not supported mechanically.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, such as neostigmine or edrophonium, can reverse its effects by increasing the amount of acetylcholine available to compete with curarine at the receptor sites.
A toxic alkaloid originally obtained from plants of the genus Strychnos, used to poison arrows and, in purified form, as a muscle relaxant in medicine.
Curarine is usually technical / medical in register.
Curarine: in British English it is pronounced /kjʊˈrɑːriːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /kjʊˈrɑːriːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word is exclusively technical.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CURE' is not in 'CURARINE' – it's a poison that causes paralysis, used in tiny, controlled doses in medicine.
Conceptual Metaphor
A KEY that FITS but DOESN'T TURN the LOCK (competitively blocks the receptor).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary mechanism of action of curarine?