TERATOGEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any agent that interferes with normal embryonic development: alcohol or thalidomide or X-rays or rubella are examples

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("teratogen" is a kind of...):

agent (an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "teratogen"):

thalidomide (a sedative and hypnotic drug; withdrawn from sale after discovered to cause severe birth defects because it inhibits angiogenesis)

Derivation:

teratogenic (of or relating to substances or agents that can interfere with normal embryonic development)

Credits