paclitaxel

P3A1C3L1I1T1A1X8E1L1
UK/ˌpak.lɪˈtak.sɛl/US/ˌpæk.lɪˈtæk.sl̩/

noun

A taxane antineoplastic drug C₄₇H₅₁NO₁₄ originally isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew, Taxus brevifolia, but now typically derived as a semisynthetic product of the English yew; it interferes with microtubule function and inhibits cell division, and is used in the treatment of some cancers, especially those of the breast and ovary.

OriginLatin (brevifo)li(a) →
Less commonScrabble 21
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Meanings

nounpaclitaxel (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemedicineA taxane antineoplastic drug C₄₇H₅₁NO₁₄ originally isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew, Taxus brevifolia, but now typically derived as a semisynthetic product of the English yew; it interferes with microtubule function and inhibits cell division, and is used in the treatment of some cancers, especially those of the breast and ovary.

Origin

  1. Latin(brevifo)li(a)
  2. Englishpaclitaxel

From Pac(ific yew) + Latin (brevifo)li(a) + -taxel (“alteration of taxol”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

paclitaxel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paclitaxel

MLA

“paclitaxel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paclitaxel. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “paclitaxel,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paclitaxel.

Source: paclitaxel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.