noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A neurotoxin, produced by some dinoflagellates, associated with red tides, that can accumulate in molluscs and cause subsequent food poisoning in humans countable, uncountable
2. 2
   a powerful neurotoxin produced by certain dinoflagellates found in red tides; it can accumulate in mollusks that feed on the dinoflagellates and cause food poisoning to humans wordnet

Etymology

From Saxidomus giganteus (butter clam), from which it was first isolated + toxin.

Related phrases

food poisoningred tide

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.