Definition

A harmful substance that is made by certain types of fungi, especially molds, which can be dangerous to health.

Example

Some grains can be contaminated with mycotoxins, making them unsafe to eat.

Conversation

I just read about something called mycotoxin in my science class.

Oh, what is that exactly?

It's a toxin produced by molds that can be harmful to health.

That sounds pretty serious; I didn't know fungi could be so dangerous.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mycotoxin is formed from "myco-" (from Greek "mukon", meaning fungus) and "toxin" (from Greek "toxikon", meaning poison). The word refers to a poison produced by fungi.

Memory Tip

Think of 'fungus' ('myco-') that produces a 'poison' ('toxin') — that's what mycotoxin means.

Visually Confused Words