Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

[Gr. [GREEK] inflexible; hence [GREEK] [GREEK], one of the three Parcæ;

ἀ

priv. + [GREEK] to turn.]

(Chem.)

A poisonous, white, crystallizable alkaloid, extracted from the

Atropa belladonna

, or deadly nightshade, and the

Datura Stramonium

, or thorn apple. It is remarkable for its power in dilating the pupil of the eye. Called also

daturine

atropine ‎(uncountable)

(toxicology, pharmacology) An alkaloid extracted from the plant deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and other sources. Though overdoses would be fatal it is used as a drug in medicine for its paralytic effects (e.g. in surgery to relax muscles, in dentistry to dry the mouth, in ophthalmology to dilate the pupils).

alkaloid extracted from the plant deadly nightshade