Meanings
nounsaxitoxin (countable and uncountable, plural saxitoxins)
plural saxitoxins
- countableuncountableA neurotoxin, produced by some dinoflagellates, associated with red tides, that can accumulate in molluscs and cause subsequent food poisoning in humans
Origin
From Saxidomus giganteus (butter clam), from which it was first isolated + toxin.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish saksitoksiini
- saksitoksiinitype of neurotoxin
Greek σαξιτοξίνη
- σαξιτοξίνη (saxitoxíni)type of neurotoxin
Cite this entry
APA
saxitoxin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/saxitoxin
MLA
“saxitoxin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/saxitoxin. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “saxitoxin,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/saxitoxin.
Source: saxitoxin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.